Thanks to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, most new films are not releasing in theatres across the world, but are rather choosing the online route. There are three ways one can download newly-released movies. One can use free movie sites like Vimeo and YouTube; using Torrents or through On-Demand services.

The lockdown has made most of us movie buffs, but for those unaware, here’s how you can download a newly-released movie including Dil Bechara, Shakuntala Devi, Lootcase, Gunjan Saxena, Khuda Haafiz and Sadak 2.

Free movie sites

There are quite a few free movie download sites. Go to the website and on the search bar at the top of the screen or a tab that says 'Search', type in the name of the film you want and press enter. Videos that are downloadable have a download button or list of formats they are available for downloading.

Select the movie quality and format. If the film is downloadable, the button is just below the player window. Select download.

On-Demand Services

Go to the subscription website and create an account when prompted. Some of the streaming services offer free trials when one signs up, but eventually users are required to pay.

Browse the content on the homepage or use the search function.

Check if the content for streaming is available for download. The content is often available in both standard and high definition formats as well as 4K ultra high definition.

Click on download. If one wants to watch it on television, they may need additional equipment such as AppleTV, Google Chromecast etc.

Torrents

Using a trusted VPN to hide one’s IP address when using a torrent client is extremely important due to copyright and piracy laws. One has to be careful during the installation process to make sure no additional software gets downloaded as well.

BitTorrent is one of the most effective and popular methods for downloading large files on the internet and is good for movies. Find a safe and reputable source before downloading anything. Double-click on torrent file to download automatically. When finished downloading, scan file to ensure there is no virus.

The internet has proven to be a boon for users who love to binge watch movies without having to pay for them. Purchasing a ticket and watching a film at the theatre, or subscribing to an OTT platform is the right way to go about to help all the people who have spent hours behind making such cinematic experiences. However, a lot of people prefer to download the free latest Hindi, English and other language movies rather than paying for them.

For those downloading films, they need to be aware that piracy is a criminal offence. The Cinematograph Act of 2019 can make you spent up to 3 years in jail with a fine of Rs 10 lakh. The piracy law in India states that downloading a copyrighted film from the website or helping someone else download content can lead to the punishment including a jail term for six months (first time offence) to three years, with a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh.