OTT versus theatres: Here’s what filmmakers really think

MUMBAI: The current trend of digital releases is only a temporary solution. During a session titled ‘Changing Theatrical Windows – Direct To OTT,’ the speakers on the panel said that India’s theater industry is not going anywhere. The producers and filmmakers will not abandon theatres. Here’s what they have said.

Shoojit Sircar: While talking about his latest release on Amazon Prime Video, ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ he expressed that it was his only option and there is a limit to which a producer can sit on a film. “Of course it was conceived and shot for theatrical release, as a filmmaker I can’t think of making a film without a theatre, but the release was set for April 17 and we all know what happened,” Sircar said. “We thought there would be a bottleneck (when cinemas finally reopen), and we didn’t know where and when my film would eventually be placed, but every film has a shelf life and there’s the issue of freshness to also consider.”

Vikram Malhotra: Vikram is the founder of Abundantia Entertainment, who is producing the upcoming biographical film ‘Shankuntala Devi,’ premiering on Amazon Prime Video. “We wanted to take the film to global consumers of Hindi content when it was still fresh, not 12-14 months later, and give them the opportunity to engage with that content when not much else was coming their way. Plus an investment has been made, and there’s a whole value chain from the director and lead talent to the spot boys and other crew members, for whom it’s beneficial to be compensated on time.”

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Madhur Bhandarkar: “This is definitely just a phase, and whenever the vaccine comes along, theatres will remain as strong as ever, just as they did after the launch of cable TV. We just need to be pragmatic – if you’re only making one film at a time, and need the returns for your next project, then of course you need a way to recoup.”

FICCI Frames is running until 11th July, conducting sessions to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the media industry and how Indian cinemas will cope with social distancing measures and other safety precautions after they reopen. Other streaming platforms like Disney+Hotstar and Netflix have joined Amazon Prime Video in the race of releasing big-budget Bollywood films that were initially supposed to be out in cinemas!

SOURCE – BINGED NEWS

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