45 OTT release date confirmed: When and where to watch Shivarajkumar, Upendra and Raj B Shetty's Kannada movie

After a modest theatrical run, Kannada fantasy action drama 45 is ready for a second innings, this time on the digital screen. The film, which brought together Shivarajkumar, Upendra and Raj B Shetty, was released in theatres during Christmas with high expectations. Directed by singer-turned-filmmaker Arjun Janya, 45 promised a mix of spectacle, emotion and philosophy, but struggled to make a strong impact at the box office. Now, the film is gearing up for its digital debut.

Streaming details of 45

The makers have now confirmed that 45 will premiere on OTT from January 23, with ZEE5 securing the film’s post-theatrical streaming rights. The Kannada version will be available on the platform, while there is no official word yet on when or if the dubbed versions will arrive digitally. The OTT release is expected to give the film a wider reach, especially among viewers who missed it in theatres.



45 marks the directorial debut of Arjun Janya, one of Kannada cinema’s most successful music composers. The film stars Shivarajkumar, Upendra and Raj B Shetty in lead roles, positioning them at the heart of a story that mixes mythology, belief and human emotion. Unlike conventional action dramas, 45 leans heavily into a spiritual concept rooted in Sanatana Dharma, the belief surrounding the 45-day period after a person’s death, during which the soul’s future journey is believed to be decided.

More about the movie 45

In earlier interviews, Arjun Janya has spoken about how deeply personal the film is to him. He has shared that the loss of his brother during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with his own health struggles, pushed him to reflect on life, death and what lies beyond. Those thoughts eventually became the foundation of 45, shaping its central theme and emotional tone. Rather than approaching the subject as pure fantasy, he aimed to present it through a human lens.

Within the narrative, Raj B Shetty’s character becomes the focal point of this spiritual conflict. Shivarajkumar and Upendra are placed on opposing sides. Their ideological clash forms the backbone of the story. The performances, particularly Raj B Shetty’s restrained portrayal, were among the film’s more widely appreciated aspects.

Produced by Ramesh Reddy under the Suraj Productions banner, 45 was mounted as a pan-India project and released in five languages. Major production houses handled distribution across regions, underlining the scale and ambition behind the film. While its theatrical response may have been mixed, 45 aims to find new life on OTT, where viewers often embrace experimental themes more openly.

Stay tuned for more updates!