Digital films are a big risk for cinema hall

Due to the release of two or three big films in a single day, there was a lot of conflict at the box office. But this conflict would not happen on the OTT so soon regarding the release of films, it was not expected.

The digital release of feature films on OTT started on June 12 itself. It has been only about a month and a half. But on July 31, the release of three films on the same day on OTT got the message that OTT platforms are going to become the new big hub of entertainment.

Also, like theater, films will continue to have mutual conflicts in digital releases.

On July 31, Jahan Vidya Balan’s popular film ‘Shakuntala Devi’ was released on Amazon Prime Video. So Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte’s ‘Raat Akali Hai’ on Netflix and Kunal Khemu’s ‘Lootcase’ on Hotstar.

Earlier, Sushant Singh Rajput’s final film ‘Dil Bechara’ has surprised the audience to see the kind of audience bumper response on Disney Hotstar.

After the first streaming of ‘Dil Bechara’ on 24th July evening, the way viewers showed their interest in watching this film, it shows that the digital release of the films can get more popularity than the theater release.

With the closure of all theaters in the Corona era, a new era of digital films has started in the country, whose first major debut was on 12 June with Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana’s film Gulabo Sitabho.

In this episode, ‘Dil Bechara’ was the second major film released on the digital platform.

Both of these films released on OTT have gained good popularity. Also, the three films released on 31 July also showed good interest from the audience. From this, it became clear that till now the OTT which was famous for its web series is going to be dominated by feature films.

Digital release of films will benefit filmmakers but it is also an attack on the supremacy of theater.

A flood of films on OTT

There is now an influx of feature films on digital platforms, only to be hinted at when the OTT platform Disney Plus Hotstar on June 29 surprised everyone by announcing the release of seven big and popular films.

In these seven films, ‘Dil Bechara’ and ‘Lootcase’ have now been released. The remaining 5 films will also be released by October.

Of these 5 films, three are big films. Such as Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani’s ‘Lakshmi Bomb’, Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha’s ‘Bhuj- The Pride of India’, ‘Road-2’ directed by Mahesh Bhatt which includes Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt , Aditya Roy Kapoor.

Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana D’Cruz and Nikita Dutta’s ‘The Big Bull’ are also important in these films. Also, Vidyut Jamwal’s ‘Khuda Hafiz’ is also making headlines before its release.

On the other hand, after Hot Star, another big platform of OTT, Netflix has also prepared to release many films. Among the films that Netflix will show are Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao and Fatima Sheikh’s ‘Ludo’ and Sanjay Dutt’s ‘Torbaaz’.

Also Anil Kapoor’s ‘AK Verses Ek’, Shabana Azmi’s ‘Kali Khoohi’, Bobby Deol’s ‘Class of 83’, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shweta Prasad’s ‘Serious Man’, Yami Gautam and Vikram Massey’s ‘Ginni Weds Sunny’ And Kajol’s ‘Tribhanga’.

While Netflix has already announced the release of Jahnavi Kapoor’s popular film ‘Gunjan Saxena – The Kargil Girl’.

Apart from these films, discussions about the release of some more important films on other OTT platforms are in full swing. In which Zee-5 is already important. Here, Shemaroo, who has a special dominance in the film field, has also started a separate OTT platform called ‘Shemarumi Box Office’ from 31 July.

All this suggests that OTT platform is also emerging as the third screen of cinema and entertainment after the big screen of cinema and small screen of TV.

In fact, in view of the long crisis of Corona after last March, it was natural for all the filmmakers whose films were ready for screening. But due to their release, the cost of those films was increasing.

In such a situation, when some filmmakers got an offer to release their films on digital platforms, some filmmakers showed interest in it. By the time many filmmakers are ready for the digital release of their films made for the theater.

Although initially the digital release of films was also a challenge whether this new experiment would be successful or not. When Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Gulabo Sitabho’ first came to OTT as an experiment, he also wrote a tweet – “Entered the film industry in 1969 and now 51 years in 2020. These years saw many changes and challenges. . Now another challenge. Digital release. My film ‘Gulabo Sitabo. “

Here, on the day of seeing the success of the digital release of films, some or the other film is being announced on OTT. No big deal, in the future, big films of big budget should also make the new avatar of digital cinema their first choice. If this happens, digital cinema will establish a large empire in the coming days.

But will it really happen? Or the popularity of digital cinema is only until theaters open. Meaning As soon as Kavid 19’s havoc ends, the audience will again return to the theater as before.

What color will digital cinema take in the future and what will its future be like? To know this, we also spoke exclusively to some veterans of digital platform and film-TV industry.

‘Both theater and digital will run’

Uday Shankar, the star and chairman of Disney India, who is also the president of ‘The Walt Disney Company’ Asia Pacific. Due to this, the command of the country’s largest OTT platform Hot Star is also in their hands.

Says Uday Shankar, “I believe the digital release of films is a welcome start in this crisis. OTT platforms will greatly benefit the film industry. Because we are short of screens. The whole year gets booked soon.” Due to which many films have to struggle a lot throughout the year for release. But now OTT is also a medium for theatrical release of films and a good opportunity. “

“It will benefit a lot in the long run. Films that do not get theaters will be able to be released on OTT. It will benefit a large number of artists, producers, directors and writers, etc. Because films get digital platforms. We will start making more films here. “

But the digital release of films with theaters are quite disturbing. He feels that this will stop people from going to the theater because the film which he used to see in the theater, he will now get to see it at home. What will happen to this situation?

Uday Shankar says, “People will not stop going to the theater. When the circumstances change, the theater will be safe, then they will go to the theater too. But for every film, the audience does not want to go to the theater and cannot go because it takes time. There is more money too, so a movie can be watched at home in a week, so it has the benefit of the audience as well as the creative community. There is also no loss of theater in it because if the consumption of the films and the audience increases then the overall film The industry will boost. “

Are big budget films also likely to be digitally released? Uday’s reply to this was, “It might not happen yet, but in the coming years, there may be a digital release of big budget films. I believe that in the coming time, digital release of films will also be popular and people will go to the cinema house.” I will also go and watch movies. Just like today, people also watch live telecasts of cricket matches from home. This also increases the TRP of the channels to a great extent. Also, stadiums also make the house full. Not that cricket on TV People stopped going to the stadium because of the broadcast. “

‘Digital release is a better option’

On the other hand, NP Singh, managing director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India, considers the release of films on OTT as a better option in the current circumstances. Sony’s own popular digital platform is Sony Live. There Sony Pictures’ own film ‘Shakuntala Devi’ was also very much liked after its release on July 31 on Amazon Prime Video. Vidya Balan starrer This film is a biopic of well-known mathematician Shakuntala Devi.

NP Singh explains, “The films which were ready and scheduled to be released in the last months but could not be due to Corona. This time is even more difficult for them. The cost of such filmmakers where the big cost is stuck in these films There is an eagerness to see these films in the audience as well. In such a situation, digital platforms are a very good medium for these films. This will make the finished films easy to reach the audience. “

Singh says, “Actually what will happen next in the circumstances, it is difficult to say what will happen next. Until the corona vaccine comes, it will not be finished. Then until the corona cases are reduced, By then the chances of opening theaters are also low. Even if theaters are open somewhere, if people do not feel safe, then people will not go to theaters or very few people will go. So this time it is okay to monetize the cost. “

Can OTT be a good platform for big budget films too? On this, he says, “Right now, only mid-budget films are being released on digital. Some producers may also decide to do some convincing in view of the funds stuck on their big budget films.”

How do you see the future of OTT and its growth? In response to this, he said, “The growth of OTT and its future was better than before in India. But now its growth in lockdown has increased. But this growth and its increased audience remains intact when we get out of this epidemic or No, it will be known only then. “

OTT business will more than double

There is no doubt that due to the web series, the growth of OTT in India was already good. But now how much can the OTT business grow with the digital release of films? We asked this question to Tarun Katial.

Tarun Katial has also been associated with the entertainment industry for a long time. Currently, he is the CEO of Zee-5, one of the few major OTTs in the country.

Tarun says, “In the coming two years, OTT’s revenue will be more than two times. At this time it is around 3 thousand crores rupees. But in 2022 it will be 7 to 8 thousand crores rupees.”

Tarun Katial says, “The platform has gained even more popularity due to the direct to digital films coming in Corona’s time. But we are already making our direct digital films. Last year too, we have made 6 films and this year too we are making 8 to 10 films. Here talks are on for the release of some of our other big films too. “

Will the magic of OTT remain the same after the theater opens? When asked, Tarun says, “Even after theaters open, a handful of feature films will be released on OTT. Because some films will be more suitable for OTT not for theaters. For example, OTT is a good medium for idea-based films. But theater releases are necessary for big budget films. “

OTT platforms take the audience for a specified period by taking a specified amount of money.

Any movies or web series that are streaming in that period can be viewed by the customers of that platform. But if streaming of big or popular movies is on OTT, then the trend of taking some extra amount from customers on OTT for the first one or two days can also start.

When we asked this question to Tarun Katial, he said, “This is a good idea. It can happen that when a big film is released, then customers can be charged separately for the first few hours or a day or two. “

Theaters will remain the first choice!

In the 1970s to 1990s, Rakesh Roshan made a different identity as a romantic hero from films like Paaraya Dhan, Aankhen-Aankhon, Khel Khel, Aapki Deewane, Sundar Aur Aakhir Kyun.

Later, he also became a producer-director and with his banner Rakesh made many films like Khoon Bhari Maang, Karan Arjun, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Koi Mil Gaya and Krish.

When we talked to Rakesh Roshan on the digital release of the films, he said, “Actually the low budget films which were ready for release are going to OTT. But cinema theater will always be the first choice of the audience. Still This will happen after this epidemic stops. “

The film should reach the audience

On the other hand, another well known filmmaker Boney Kapoor considers the digital release of films to be a necessity in today’s era. As a producer, he has made many hit films like Saat Din, Mr. India, Judai, Pukar, No Entry, Wanted and Mom.

At the same time, almost his entire family is in films, from his brother Anil Kapoor to son Arjun and daughter Jahnavi. His wife Sridevi was the moonlight of cinema. On the other hand, Jahnavi’s famous film ‘Gunjan Saxena-Kargil Girl’ is also going to be released on Netflix instead of theater.

Bonnie believes, “The theater has been closed for the last 4 months. There has been a spurt of films to be released. Now when theaters open, how many people will go there. It is not known. That’s how many producers’ money got stuck. “. So if they get an offer from any OTT platform, then they will release their film there. If it brings money, then money flow will start.”

Your daughter Jahnavi was very excited about this film. This is his second film. In such a situation, you or Jahnavi must have been disappointed that ‘Gunjan Saxena’ is being digitally released in place of theater?

In response, Bonnie said, “Desperate Kya, what is this film being released? At this time more than 50 films are waiting for release. But only 15-20 films are getting the opportunity to release on OTT. “

“If theaters open, then their first priority will be more films like Suryavanshi, 83, Radhey, Coolie number one and Shamshera. So ‘Gunjan Saxena’ is reaching the audience through digital, that’s the big thing.”

Boney Kapoor understands reality. The situation is such that even if the theaters open, no film will be released on its predetermined date this year.

The films which were to be released on Diwali, Christmas, their shooting hangs in the balance.

So now that the film is released on OTT itself, it is a privilege because OTT also cannot release all films.

Theater monopoly will end

TP Aggarwal, president of the filmmaker’s Indian Motion Pictures Association, is also happy to get another medium of digital for films.

Aggarwal says, “The digital release of films will bring great relief to the filmmakers. Till now, theaters had a monopoly on the release of the films. Theaters used to charge separately for the promos of the films to show the promos in the theater. . They also used to decide which film will get the screen, who will not. But now they will not have a monopoly with the digital release. “

Aggarwal also says, “Before the release of the films, the producers are under a lot of stress. Whether or not a good date will be available for the release. Then how to promote the film. Whether or not the film will run. But now where the producer is on the promotion before the release The expenditure of crores will be saved. There will also be no stress on the film not running, etc. The producer will be clear as soon as he gives the film on digital platform how much profit he is getting. “

All this shows that digital cinema has climbed many steps of success in its initial few days.

The release of films on digital platforms will continue even after the Corona era. This will definitely end theaters’ monopoly and the filmmakers will also reduce the tension about the release of their film.

Also, now films of new variety and new style are being made more than before.