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BOX-OFFICE CLASH? NOT A WORRY ON OTT, FEEL FILMMAKERS
What’s a Bollywood release without the quintessential clash at the box office, where two or more films vie for the audience’s attention? And there were many face-offs lined up for the year, but the Covid19 pandemic changed the equation as many films opted for the OTT route. Taking the box-office clashes with them.
But it’s no longer a worry for producers and exhibitors, as they don’t have to stress about getting enough screens in theatres. On July 31 for instance, three films are dropping on different OTT platforms — Shakuntala Devi, Raat Akeli Hai and Lootcase.
“It has been a period of disruptive thinking, we had to pull back and take some calls. I feel, in many ways, we need to learn to live in an environment where competition and clutter will exist. The good news here is that the universe of eyeballs is so large and the content offering so diverse, there is enough room for everyone,” says Vikram Malhotra, producer of Shakuntala Devi.
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, whose film Yaara is releasing on July 30, on another OTT platform, says, “I don’t think clashes are a concern anymore because there are so many platforms. The shelf life of a project on the web is very long. Aisa nahi hai ki pehle din kisne dekha.”
Even with these clashes, it’s a win-win situation for everyone, feels film trade expert Girish Johar. He feels
TIGMANSHU DHULIA, FILMMAKER
I don’t think clashes are a concern anymore... The shelf life of a project on the web is very long. Aisa nahi hai ki pehle din kisne dekha t has been a long journey from being one of the assistants to the renowned Prahald Kakkar (ad film maker) to directing OTT series. But every day has been a learning experience for me. I had decided when I was in Arts School that film is what I will be pursuing as a career. I was intrigued by the entire process and wanted to be a part of it as soon as possible.” Those are the words of director Ashish R Shukla, who has been in the industry for almost 20 years and has tried his hand at advertising, writing, directing TV thrillers, serials and films.
For Ashish, the turning point came when he saw the film ‘Salam Bombay’. “That film always inspired me. I remember I saw it on Doordarshan when I was just a child and I realised that this is what life is. I completed my major in photography and as it is said, life came a full circle. I got to know a gentleman staying in my building was associated with that film and was currently associated with ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. It was Sir Harish Amin. I met him and shared my love for films with him. It was through him that I got the opportunity to join Prahald (Kakkar) Sir’s team. unlike earlier, when ‘smaller’ films would be given bad show timings and theatres, with the OTT platforms they’ve got a level playing field. “It’s been a challenge for smaller films to get screens. Even when they did, they’d be consumed by the big releases. This is a blessing in disguise for all such films. They don’t have to spend anything on promotions and marketing either,” he shares.
Flexibility of OTT platforms is what will make clashes redundant despite films releasing on the same dates, feels producer Anand Pandit, adding that rather than the clash of films, it might be a
ANAND PANDIT, PRODUCER
Each film will have its breathing space. If I’ve subscribed to three platforms, I’ll watch all, there’ll be no ‘either or’.
“He (Prahald Kakkar) was my first teacher and after that I worked in ad films for different agencies. It was in 2007 that I made a short film, ‘The Lock,’ which Anurag (Kashyap) liked a lot and called me home. We both had a UP connection as my parents are from Pratapgarh and a number of relatives live in Lucknow too. He gave me a film to write that was based in Varanasi. At the same time, he was preparing for one of his films and he took me along and that’s how I joined the team as the creative head for ‘Dev D’,” said Ashish. It was then that he decided to go solo. “I started making documentaries and my most acclaimed one was a documentary ‘Inside Mumbai Terror Attack-26/11’ that also won an award and turned out to be a milestone for me. Around that time, a friend asked me to direct a feature film and I came on board. And that is how, finally, I got to direct my first feature film ‘Prague’.
“The film was critically acclaimed and went to several international film festivals. It was also the biggest learning experience for me and I understood what to do and what not to do. Then I directed a crime show for TV ‘ShaitainA Criminal Mind’, after which clash of the OTT platforms.
“If a films ends at 9pm on one platform, I can go to the other at 9.05pm and start another film. Clashes aren’t going to be how they used to be. Each film will have its breathing space. If I’ve subscribed to three platforms, I’ll watch all three, there’ll be no ‘either or’, like it used to be in theatres due to the tight budget every family has,” says Pandit, whose production, The Big Bull, is also headed for an OTT release.
So, how are release dates of the films decided on the web? A source from an OTT platform says weekend slots are most popular. “It’s decided mutually by the filmmakers and platforms. The lockdown is still there, but weekends are considered to be relatively free days when people have the time to watch something. Hence, most films are releasing on Fridays, resulting in so-called clashes,” he informs. a couple of TV series followed, as did the first daily soap of my career. I was doing TV to support my finances as I had a family to take care of,” Ashish said.Currently, the young director is basking in the success of his second OTT series. “When a friend asked to meet her for a new project, I had no clue that the script would be so edgy and uncanny to direct. I was all game because this was my genre always and getting to work the way I was used to was an added advantage for me. And then in 2019 this riveting web thriller, ‘Undekhi’ happened that is now streaming on an OTT. It was different from my first OTT series ‘Band’ because here I was racing with time as each and every character was an enigma in himself or herself. I am happy with the way the show is being praised by all. Now, I am waiting for the release of my next directorial ‘Bahut hua Sammaan,’ with one of my favourite actors, Sanjay Mishra. The film was shot extensively in Varanasi last year.,” Ashish said.