FOR ANURAG LAUDS OTT MONEY, TRANSPARENCY OF WIDER REACH

Despite theatre owners vehemently opposing the direct-to-ott release of movies, many filmmakers seem keen on getting their projects out on streaming platforms for the audience to see. And with his latest film Ludo releasing on a digital platform, director Anurag Basu too, feels that this is the time to adapt and go for the best available option.

“In such times, you can’t call people to the theatres and filmmakers can’t wait for too long on their ready films, because it’s costing them money. There are a lot of things involved with release of a film. On OTT platforms and even satellite releases, there’s a transparency of money. In theatres, we don’t know.

You’re never sure,” he says.

Elaborating on his views, Basu, 46, adds that everyone wants to release their films “safely” but that safe word “doesn’t come” with theatres. “When the theatre owners say that picture ne itna business kiya hai, we have to take their word for it,” he points.

However, the director notes that there are both advantages as well as disadvantages in releasing a movie – meant for theatres – on an OTT platform. “When you make a film for the theatre, the language of cinema is different. The way you’re shooting and telling the story, that changes. When you write for theatres, you write with an interval in mind. So there’s a beginning, middle and end in the first part, and same process is there for the second half. If a filmmaker knows beforehand that his films will release on the web, he can do a better job about it,” he explains, while adding that the pros of a digital release include a wider reach.

“All that an entertainer in performing arts wants is that their work reaches maximum people. That is only possible today with OTTS,” he shares.

Anurag Basu