Ever since the pandemic induced lockdowns shut down theatres last year, the business has not been abloe to bounce back, despite several months of relaxations and reopening of theaters. Many stars had to reshcedule their films, just days after announcing new release dates.
Now, once again, Akshay Kumar announced on Tuesday that his upcoming film, Bell Bottom, will have a theatrical release next month. But will the audience return in such scenario when the real threat of the deadly coronavirus continues to loom large?
Anant Roongta, MD, Famous Studios, shared his views on changing scenario of entertainment industry and told Dainik Samvaad, “India is a country of rich heritage and that has had a substantial influence and been a key driving force for most of the cinematic stories coming from the region. With the boom of the internet, content consumption has increased drastically but cinema experience is being missed. With the advent of OTT platforms and given the scenario where the audiences have more time to spare sitting at home, the digital content has expanded exponentially with users getting easy access to consume content online having a variety of genres to choose from with a plethora of digital platforms options at their disposal.”
He added, “Cinema on the other hand has always been a very impact driven experience providing a two – three hours long getaway to the viewers who are immersed in the story leaving all the real-life stress behind. The escapism and anonymity offered by a dark theatre was the reason people loved going to the movies. When the lights dimmed and the screen came on, people could disconnect from real-life struggles and get fully invested in a fantasy world. People don’t watch movies; they experience the magic of cinema and that is going to play major role in bringing audiences back to the cinema halls. While the current circumstances are such that the mobility and public gatherings are restricted but with OTT platforms offering realistic relatable content, producers and film-makers have the opportunity to leverage the current trend in creating more quality and resonating content at a much higher pace.”