Audience ready to get back to cinema halls?
Taking an adaptive stand to the theatres vs OTT debate, actor Nushrratt Bharuccha says, “the objective is that the film must reach the audience,” regardless of whether it releases in cinema halls, or directly on the web. Acknowledging the constraints due to the circumstances, Bharuccha says, “We’re in a global pandemic where
The fate of cinema halls in India still hangs in the balance, in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Shut for four months now, brick and mortar movie theatres do not seem to be on the ‘unlock’ priority list. In the wake of rising opposition from the theatre owners, however, the question remains whether the audiences are prepared to get back.
Actor Juhi Chawla, for one, isn’t sure that they are. “My friends refuse to go back to the theatres whenever they open. They say, ‘We won’t go back to theatres in such a rush, we don’t know who’s sat on the seat before’,” says Chawla, theatres are shut, malls are shut, gyms are shut. We don’t know when it’ll be safe enough for us to step out and go to these places again. In such a scenario, if producers of the films that were supposed to release from March till now think that releasing them on OTT is correct, they know the best.”
She, meanwhile, refuses to comment on the speculation that her upcoming comedy, Chhalaang, co-starring RajKummar Rao, might also release on the OTT platform. The film was to release in June this year.
Emphasising on the ‘need adding to her point by further emphasising on the positives of the OTT platforms.
“If your film releases in theatres, people from certain areas come and watch it. If it releases on the web, people will watch it in Africa, India, United States, so you have more viewership,” she says.
The sentiment is echoed by actor Angad Bedi. “People are mostly watching content on OTT, so do I. Theatres are yet to open and even when it opens in the near future, I’m not sure how many will take the risk of actually going. I will think twice,” confesses the 37-yearold.
Trade analyst Atul Mohan explains why schools and movie theatres will open the last. “Covid cases are increasing in Mumbai and Delhi, the two main centres from where the total box office revenue for a Hindi film comes. The situation is not under control. Who’ll visit theatres?” Mohan asks.
“People are in a financial crisis with job losses and salary cuts. No one is in the mental state to enjoy. How can they spend Rs 300- 400 on a movie to adjust’, the Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018) actor says, “I’m hoping we get a vaccination (for Covid) and go back to the way life was. That theatres open, and we enjoy watching films with our families. But, in such unprecedented times, we have to adapt and adjust.”
A self-confessed OTT binger, Bharuccha feels web is a great space for new actors, writers and producers, who are trying to do something different in terms of content.
“Web has fewer restrictions and one can try out things they probably can’t do in a typical film. I’m a full on OTT binger. I feel blessed to be in a ticket and take the risk?” he argues.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh concurs, “Whenever cinema halls reopen, they will screen old films again. The audience would want to bring their life back on track, pay their bills, earn their livelihood. Entertainment doesn’t even feature on the list.”
Actor Arjun Mathur says he may make an exception only for certain kind of films. “I might not go to a theatre unless I want to see some special effect extravaganza, such as a 3D film that I’d like to watch only on the big screen,” he says.
The management of movie theatres remain hopeful. Rajender Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure, says, “We don’t expect big numbers immediately after reopening. But when releases such as Sooryavanshi and 83 come, it should be back to normal. We are sure by that time the fear of Corona will also go away, and a vaccine will also come. We are maybe a month away from opening.”
Shreya Mukherjee
Rishabh Suri
time like this ki aaj theatres band hai, toh koi baat nahi hum ghar baithe yeh to dekh sakte hai. Similarly, everybody who is working, will have a new outlet to work as well,” shares the Dream Girl (2019) actor.
Adding that she would love to explore the web for work, the actor says, “Since I watch so much, I know how people are viewing it and what they like. But, what roles would I like to do, will totally depend on what excites me. The story matters the most. If you captivate me as an audience, you sold it to me.”