FlippED is an ED Original style wherein two bloggers come together to share their opposing or orthogonal perspectives on an interesting subject.
This pandemic has turned the entertainment industry head over heels. Our favourite celebrities are seen doing household chores rather than shooting for their projects.
However, online platforms are making sure we don’t part ways with Bollywood as all big Bollywood films are releasing on OTT (Over The Top) platforms.
Now the question arises whether releasing the big-budget films on online platforms is truly beneficial for the film industry? Or is it better to release films on big screens post coronavirus?
Let’s see what our bloggers have to say about it.
Blogger Diksha Singh’s View
According to me, our small screens can, in no way, supersede the ambience of theatres. Releasing much-awaited movies online in a country where producers get their biggest returns from box office collection, might not turn out as a good decision.
No More Blockbusters
Filmmakers are willing to release their projects as there is a lot of anxiety among them for their badly hit business. Recently, one of India’s biggest online platforms, Disney+ Hotstar, announced the digital release of six films, including Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Laxmmi Bomb‘, Sushant Singh Rajput’s last release ‘Dil Bechara‘, and Ajay Devgn starrer ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India‘.
As it is very difficult to predict the success of a movie, these films get sold at a very minimal price to online platforms when compared to the earnings they could potentially make at a theatre release.
According to a report by IndiaTV on the online release of the movie ‘Laxmmi Bomb‘, “The film has been sold at staggering Rs 125 crore, trade analyst claims that the revenue generated by direct digital release will be very less”.
Theatre Community In Distress
Leading multiplexes and theatres like INOX and PVR are expressing their ferocity regarding this decision of filmmakers. The time to capture the entertainment market by the streaming platforms may be behind us as we are just a few steps away from reopening cinema halls with all necessary precautions.
The theatre community has already lost a huge amount of revenue but this decision has snatched the single ray of hope that they had with the release of these much-awaited movies.
Big-Budget Films Are Not Suitable For Online Releases
Some movies are just meant for theatrical release, especially big-budget Bollywood sagas. Releasing such movies online can discourage the audience and fans.
Yash Raj Films and Reliance Entertainment have already made it clear that their films are not meant for OTT platforms. According to trade analysts, there is no harm in premiering a 10-crore film on a streaming platform but a movie with a 100-150 crore budget could lead to loss of revenue.
Mitigates The Outgoing Culture
In a theatre, people get united as they go through the same experience. The reactions of the audience, the clapping and whistles, make it much more thrilling and enjoyable.
Moreover, going to a movie with friends or family in multiplexes is irreplaceable. Watching a movie in a dark room on an enormous big screen with plenty of strangers is in itself a social event that is impossible to replicate at home on much smaller screens.
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Blogger Divija Jain’s View
A bunch of debates and questions have taken over the cinematic industry in the last few months from theatrical releases coming to a standstill to launching movies on online platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ Hotstar.
While it may seem that launching movies on OTT platforms is not feasible financially, here’s why I think it would be great to do so.
Reduced Cost Of Advertisements
Sometimes it costs more to advertise than to make a movie. The cost of advertising on social media and digital platforms is very less in comparison to theatrical advertisements and can reach a larger audience.
Minimum Revenue Is Guaranteed
You never know if a movie will be praised by the public or not before the big release. Launching on online platforms involves selling digital rights.
Currently, the digital rights average around 20-35 crores, which will increase with more releases across online platforms. The producer of Gulabo Sitabo, Lahiri, claimed that he was content with the response on OTT platforms.
Beneficial For Smaller Films Too
The debate on the loss of profits is mainly revolving around big Bollywood films which make more than 100 crores on their release. Many movies fail to even cross 10-20 crores and incur huge losses. Online releases will guarantee minimum revenue which will help small budget films.
Stress-Reliever Amidst The Pandemic
Watching movies and series is a way to relieve stress for almost everyone. Both the number of people using online platforms and the average number of hours spent on them have increased in the last few months.
Eliminates The Chances Of Piracy Production
Everyone cannot afford the tickets which give business to piracy production. Piracy production has often caused huge losses to Bollywood films. If the content is available on all OTT platforms and people can view it easily, then piracy production can be eliminated eventually.
Right now, the loss of earnings is universal and the recession is going on worldwide. Even if it was safe to go outside, it won’t be possible for many people to afford to go to theatres.
There are many other concerns like unemployment in theatres and loss of earnings in print media but if jobs decrease in one sector they have to rise in other sectors. Jobs can be created over time in the digital industry with the merge of the film industry and OTT platforms.
It is both the need of the hour and a silver lining for the common public.
Image credits: Google Images
Source: Business Line, India TV, The Indian Express and more
Find the blogger: @dikks09
Find Blogger at: @divijajainn
This post is tagged under: releasing movies on OTT, netflix, prime, sold, prices, bollywood, loss, revenue, box office, cinemas, cinema halls, theatre, box office collection, PVR, Bijli, coronavirus, covid 19, pandemic, lockdown, screens, TV, online release, disney, hotstar, trade
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I believe that laxmi bom will realease ASAP waiting so long to see it.