#Vishek Chauhan

[bolllywoodhungama]

Trade experts discuss why Animal star Ranbir Kapoor is leaps and bounds ahead of his contemporaries: “You can add him to the league of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan”

Animal has become the fifth blockbuster of 2023 and the second blockbuster for Ranbir Kapoor after Sanju (2018). The actor is in a unique position – he has delivered 6 flops and a few underperforming films. But he has compensated for it with big hits.

Since his debut film Saawariya (2007), Ranbir has made a place in the hearts of the audience. His charming looks and acting talent made him a performer to watch out for. Off-screen, he has an adorable-yet-badass image, which connected well with the audience. He’s absent from social media and keeps away from media when he doesn’t have a film to promote. But when he appears at events and interviews, he’ll make sure he becomes the talking point before disappearing into his cocoon or work. In today’s times, when actors are all over the place, it’s amazing how Ranbir Kapoor has managed to keep the intrigue alive.

All these factors would not have worked if he wasn’t a talented actor. As trade veteran Taran Adarsh rightly said a few weeks ago in an article for Bollywood Hungama, “You can find fault in his films. But you cannot find fault in Ranbir Kapoor’s performance.”

Ranbir Kapoor has dabbled in various genres and has always come out with flying colours. One can see that he has worked hard to get the character alive. Yet, it looks natural and this balance is hard to achieve. In Animal, he plays a ferocious character, making one forget about his acts in light-hearted films like Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), Wake Up Sid (2009), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) etc. With this film, his stardom has got a boost and it’s clear that he’s now a bona fide superstar. The usage of the prefix ‘Superstar Ranbir Kapoor’ in the posters of Animal did raise some eyebrows. But all these cynics had to eat their words once Animal became a typhoon at the ticket window.

Animal is the second film of Ranbir Kapoor to cross the Rs. 300 crores mark and it’ll be Ranbir’s first film to cross the Rs. 500 crores mark, if all goes well. Besides Shah Rukh Khan and Sunny Deol, he’ll be the third actor to enter the coveted club. Even Overseas, he has a loyal audience. Animal, in fact, was the number one film last weekend, surpassing Hollywood biggies like Napoleon and The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes with a worldwide gross of USD 42.17 million [Rs. 351.38 cr.]. If that’s not all, a viral story in Bollywood Hungama revealed that Ranbir Kapoor has collected Rs. 2018.02 crores from his 21 releases (and counting). He’ll soon surpass Aamir Khan’s cumulative figure of Rs. 2146.94 crores from 30 releases.

The newer lot of actors, interestingly, are far behind Ranbir Kapoor in terms of popularity and box-office record. Hence, is it fair to say that Ranbir Kapoor is leaps and bounds ahead of his contemporaries?

We asked trade experts to comment. Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar said, “Ranbir Kapoor is a special talent. The world knew it from his debut film, Saawariya. He was inconsistent in his choice of films. In my opinion, he tasted superstardom with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. That film was released on a non-holiday and managed to collect close to Rs. 180 crores. It speaks volumes about an actor to achieve this feat in his sixth year as an actor. His next film, Besharam (2013), also opened at Rs. 20-21 crores. Hence, he was already a star then.”

Vishek Chauhan added, “A lot of people might not agree but Barfi (2012) spoiled things for him. It took him on a different tangent. Had he stayed on the commercial tangent, he would have tasted this kind of success much earlier. He deserves every bit of it. He should be doing more of such films. Post-Covid, his choice of films has become more universal. They have become palatable to the common man. Even with Shamshera (2022), the intent was to make a commercially pleasing flick. He wants to play larger-than-life characters, which is very endearing be it Shamshera or Brahmastra or Animal. Even with Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023), he carried the film on his shoulders.” The exhibitor said that he didn’t quite enjoy the film and added, “Had it starred Ranveer Singh instead of Ranbir, the film would not have even collected Rs. 50 crores.”

Trade guru Komal Nahta said, “100% he’s ahead by leaps and bounds because he has now got mass patronage. Earlier, youngsters loved him. Now, the masses have embraced him with open arms and they’ll not let go of him. He has got a new fan following of unimaginable proportions because of Animal.”

Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, stated, “He’s the next superstar of Indian cinema. I always used to feel that agar Ranbir ko lambi race ka ghoda banna hai, then he should do action films. He was never convinced about it. He did action for the first time and look at the result.”

He continued, “I put him at par with Hrithik Roshan. But he has gone ahead of Hrithik. Hrithik has done 5-6 action films. Animal is perhaps Ranbir’s first action film and this is how it has performed. If he does 5-6 more action films, toh pata nahin yeh kahan se kahan nikal jaayega.”

Vishek Chauhan also stated on the same lines, “For the first time in his life, he has done this kind of action. And look how the masses have lapped it up. It shows that this man can do anything. He was just holding himself back. Isse better action Hindi cinema mein koi kya hi karega!”

Vishek also remarked, “Usually, actors begin their careers with commercial films, make their brand and then do unconventional films. With Ranbir, the process was in reverse. He proved his mettle as an actor and now he’s doing commercial films.”

He excitedly said, “It is so heartwarming to see a young actor rubbing shoulders with the big guns. You can add him to the league of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan.”

Kiritbhai T Vaghasia, who runs The Friday Cinema multiplex in Surat, revealed that Ranbir Kapoor has an insane fan following among the people in his region, “Brahmastra worked big time. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar was a surprise. I ran that film for many weeks. I was surprised to see the audience turning up in huge numbers even on weekdays in the fifth and sixth weeks though it was not a typical family film. And Animal has also stunned us as it’s ‘A’ rated. Yet, it’s doing blockbuster business. In short, his films always do well here.”

What next? Trade experts advise Ranbir Kapoor to continue doing massy films. Vishek Chauhan opined, “I hope he doesn’t go back and sign a film with Imtiaz Ali. If his next film also has action and mass appeal, watch out for its opening! He should be careful that his next 2-3 films should appeal to both classes and the masses. If he takes care of this aspect, Ranbir can rewrite history!”

Raj Bansal said, “It’s upto him to take the call. He’ll never stick to doing only action films. He’ll keep experimenting like he’s been doing in the past. And that’s okay. If he does 1 or 2 action films out of 5, it’s fine. He has shown his range. If you get him the right script, he’ll deliver”

Komal Nahta agreed, “He should sign a couple of more such films.” He has high hopes for Animal’s sequel, Animal Park, “I can’t even imagine the earthquake Animal Park will cause. It will be huge.”

[salmankhanholics]

★ Well done Salman Khan”: Single screen exhibitors react to Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai’s hybrid release announcement!

Apr 23, 2021  The industry, trade and moviegoers were left surprised with the sudden announcement that Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai, the much awaited film of Salman Khan, would release in cinemas on Eid. However, it’ll also simultaneously arrive on Zee’s pay-per-view platform, ZeePlex. It’s the first time something of this sort is being attempted. Ideally, a massy movie like Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai is best enjoyed in cinemas but due to the never-ending second wave of Coronavirus, it seems that the makers had to make this decision.

Shariq Patel, Chief Business Officer, Zee Studios says, “Wherever theatres are operational in India, our film will release. And internationally, cinemas are anyway open. So wherever theatres are functional, we’ll follow the theatrical windowing of that particular country.” In other words, internationally, the film will release only in cinemas, provided theatres are functioning in that region. In India, it’ll have a hybrid release.

He justifies this move by stating, “Internationally, Warner Bros has been following this practice. Last year, we experimented with just a PVOD (premium video on demand) release of Khaali Peeli. We shortened the theatrical window of Suraj Pe Mangal Bhariand Solo Brathuke So Better. We need to adapt to the existing market scenario. One has to understand that a lot of money has been invested. So one can’t keep waiting for the ideal scenario to arise. The pandemic and the resulting restrictions have been going on for a year now and there’s no end in sight. So, the point is that we have to evolve, find a solution to a given situation.”

Trade Speak Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, “The producers did the right thing. Since it’s a Salman Khan film, the costs are huge. And it’s a film which was supposed to release one year ago. Imagine the interest he must have incurred due to this delay. He has all the money in the world, I am not denying that. But every film has an economic baggage. How long can you hold on?”

He adds, “As for the exhibitors, they were hoping that Salman Khan will bail them out. As I have always said, he is the pied piper of Bollywood. His films, irrespective of the merit, command a terrific initial. Now a hybrid release announcement comes as a jolt for them. It’s going to take some time for them to absorb the reality.”

He also feels that in these sensitive times, cinema is the last thing on people’s mind, “On social media, 99% discussions are only about Covid-19. Cinema doesn’t even feature anywhere as priority. So it’s a wait and watch situation right now. We don’t know how it’s going to pan out.”

Girish Johar, producer and film business analyst, however, is more critical of this development, “This scenario has to be seen through various perspectives. Definitely, it’s a big blow for cinemas. We have already lost around 1000 screens to Covid-19 last year. And now Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai, which is like a crucial oxygen cylinder, has gone away on digital. So it’s sure to affect the health of the exhibition sector.”

He says he fails to understand how someone of the stature of Salman can opt for such a model and adds, “If you are an individual producer in need of cash flow, then one can understand if one opts for such a model. After all, the interest adds to the budget with each passing month.” He also feels that the stars have been unfair to the theatres, which made them so popular in the first place. He emphasizes, “These actors, in their 30 or 35 year old careers went to various theatres to promote their films. Kuch actors ne toh ticket window pe tickets bhi bechi hai, for promotions. Pichle ek-dedh saal mein cinemas bandh kya hue, inhone toh tweet bhi nahi kiya for helpingthis sector. It’s the cinema that made you. They should have been a little considerate about them.”

He further tells why the PVOD release is not ideal, “From infrastructure perspective, it is not the right move. It’ll stop the growth of multiplex screens. Also, OTT is an urban market and mostly patronized by viewers of 10-12 cities. Toh Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai log ZeePlex pe Delhi aur Mumbai mein dekhenge ya Ichalkaranji mein dekhenge? Obviously, it’ll be the former. And Mumbai and Delhi were the top revenue generating centres for most films. As for audiences in smaller towns, they’ll access the film through Telegram or other pirated means.”

“How long can you keep waiting?” We then asked the exhibitors on their reaction to this development. While the representatives of multiplex chains were unavailable, the single-screen cinema owners shared their views to this writer. Surprisingly, till now, they have always been against a big, feature films releasing anywhere else other than the cinemas first. This time, their viewpoint has slightly altered.

Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Bihar, says, “It’s high time they took this step and no one is to blame here. How long can you keep waiting? It’s a crisis situation for everyone. It’s not like cinemas hi marr rahe hai. Sab marr rahe hai. Everyone is suffering. Zee has paid around Rs. 230 crores. How long can they hold their investment?”

Akshaye Rathi, film exhibitor and distributor, adds, “Given the scenario given in the country right now, the decision is quite practical. I don’t expect a significant number of cinemas to be even allowed to open by May 13. It’s an interesting experiment and I truly hope that the Indian consumers rise to the occasion and actually pay per view rather than hacking the movie through piracy.”

He continues, “As an exhibitor, however, I would have loved it had the movie’s release plans been delayed a bit and was brought to the theatres when things were coming close to normal. Now that the vaccination drive is getting accelerated, I am sure that day isn’t too far out that cases would reduce. Fingers crossed and here’s wishing the team luck.”

Raj Bansal agrees with Akshaye Rathi as he states, “If they really wanted to come in a big way in theatres, they should have waited for two months.”

Question mark over its domestic box office performance However, due to the rise in cases, one wonders how many cinemas will be open in India by May 13. Also, prime markets like Mumbai, Delhi etc. might still be shut. In such a scenario, one wonders what the domestic box office of Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai would look like. Vishek Chauhan minces no words as he tells, “Theatre India mein kahan khule hai? Jo bhi khule hue hai, woh naam ke khule hue hain. The way cases are rising exponentially, cinemas will be lucky to be operating by Diwali in this country. The current crisis is unprecedented.”

He also feels that it’s a long way to go for cinemas to reopen. He explains, “First, you need the cases to go down and for people to feel confident to roam around. Then the government should feel confident to open cinemas. Then, theatre owners should feel that it’s viable to resume operations. Lastly, producers should feel that it’s a good time to release their films. Yeh hote hote aisa na ho ki phir se saal nikal jaaye.”

Raj Bansal tells, “Half of cinema theatres in India might be shut during Eid. May 13 is just three weeks away. I doubt if we can open up looking at the lockdowns that are happening in several places. The election rallies and kumbh mela have led to the increase in cases majorly. We can’t afford to do the same during Eid by opening up cinemas.” Even Akshaye Rathi is in agreement that theatres in most regions will still be shut during May 13.

Vishek Chauhan, then, tries to understand the rationale behind this move, “Salman and Zee must have got slightly bolstered since UK cinemas will resume operations from May 11. The USA market, meanwhile, is fully recovering. UAE is perfectly fine while Australia and New Zealand is alive and kicking. So the domestic losses they’ll face, they’ll make up from overseas markets to some extent. Domestic box office, meanwhile, will be zero. Kahan release karenge? The government might refuse to open cinemas for this film, fearing that it’ll lead to crowding.”

‘Radhe’ model to become the norm? Like Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai, there are several big ticket films awaiting release. The question is whether these films would also follow suit and opt for a hybrid release. Shariq Patel says, “I am fairly certain. A lot of films have been held on for so long. No producer has the capacity to hold on to their film for such a long period. However, equilibrium will be reached once the situation is back to normal. But when that normal situation would arise is something that no one knows. Today, we are in April 2021 and it’s worse than the circumstances in April 2020.”

Vishek Chauhan also has a similar point of view, “Other makers should follow suit. How long will they wait for? And we cinema owners are in no position to dictate terms to them. But one thing is proven that when cinemas are open, theatres are the best place to release a film. Theatres will be back and theatres will be the main medium to release films.”

Akshaye Rathi however disagrees, “I think a lot of filmmakers would observe what actually happens to Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai in terms of its PVOD release. India as a market has traditionally not succeeded too well with the pay-per-view model. Having said that, this is the biggest film to take this route. If it succeeds, then maybe a few more producers might consider it. So I think that it’s a wait-and-watch scenario. Personally I don’t expect too many people to take up this model yet.”

Raj Bansal adds, “It’s too early to decide. We have to wait and see how Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai performs, and also how much it affects theatrical business. If the box office gets impacted, then the Multiplex Association of India might now allow such hybrid release. However, since 15 months will pass without any major film, the MAI might allow this model for a few films initially.”

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2021/01/31/indias-cinemas-get-greenlight-to-go-back-to-100-capacity-as-bollywood-reels-from-covid-19-restrictions/

India’s cinemas get greenlight to go back to 100% capacity as Bollywood reels from Covid-19 restrictions

New Delhi has allowed cinemas and theaters all over the country, except for Covid-19 containment zones, to increase seating from 50 percent to full capacity in a move welcomed by the battered movie industry.

The new guidelines, released by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday, pertain to “cinemas, theaters and multiplexes,” allowing them to operate at full capacity from Monday provided they abide by a set of rules aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.

These include physical distancing of “at least 6 feet” outside of cinema halls, common areas or waiting rooms. Visitors and staff must wear face coverings or masks “at all times,” as well as following basic hygiene rules such as covering their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing and avoid spitting.

Theaters must continue to follow the precautionary measures already in place, such as having sanitizers readily available to guests, preventing overcrowding, and ensuring the auditoriums are sufficiently ventilated.  

The newly-released regulations also roll back restrictions that ravaged Bollywood, with the spate of suicides of actors over the past year sending shockwaves across the nation.

Movie production resumed in the fall with stringent social-distancing rules in place, but although they were allowed to reopen in October, cinemas and theaters had to operate at 50-percent capacity.

Industry professionals rejoiced over the development. The Producers Guild of India described the move as “an important step” in Bollywood’s “recovery” from the coronavirus-induced downfall.

Film exhibitor Vishek Chauhan celebrated the news as “another step towards normalcy.”

“We were down… We saw our obituaries written,” he said, apparently referring to the series of tragic deaths in Bollywood amid the pandemic.

Good news. Back to 100% capacity for cinemas soon. Contrary to perception, I don’t believe the theatrical medium will ever pass away in #India. Time for OTT and cinemas to co-exist peacefully.

— TANUJJ GARG (@tanuj_garg) January 31, 2021

While New Delhi formally removed the seating cap, it left it to the states to decide whether they are ready to ease the restrictions, noting that “states/union territories may consider proposing additional measures as per their field assessment.”

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[playermagic23]

Despite the Jigra hitch, trade experts support Alia Bhatt's STARDOM: "A Speed Breaker, Not a Stop Sign!"

Alia Bhatt is one of the few actresses who have a successful track record. Her last flop, Kalank (2019), was released more than 5 years ago, prior to the epidemic. Everything was going smoothly until Jigra appeared and harmed her box office position. However, trade experts are confident that Alia Bhatt's track record is entirely safe.

Taran Adarsh, a trade veteran, said, "Whatever Jigra has collected is because of Alia Bhatt."

Vishek Chauhan, the owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, stated, "I don't believe it impacts her. It has an impact on the filmmakers. It raises questions about their sensibility. People like her, and the audience never criticizes the performer. Otherwise, Sunny Deol's Gadar 2 (2023) would not have made Rs. 500 crores, and Shah Rukh Khan would not have followed up with two blockbusters. Similarly, if Alia comes with a great entertainer after 8-9 months, nobody can stop it from becoming a blockbuster.”

Amit Sharma, Managing Director of Miraj Entertainment Limited, remarked, "The film is good, yet there are instances when artists create experimental cinema. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. However, it has no bearing on Alia Bhatt's career as an actor.

Kiritbhai T Vaghasia, who manages The Friday Cinema multiplex in Surat, is similarly confident that Alia Bhatt would continue to be a big draw based on previous experiences. "All the earlier Alia Bhatt films like Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), Brahmastra (2022) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) were super-hits in my theatre," he informed me.

Taran Adarsh exclaimed, "I think she is quite good in the film. She's an excellent actor. But the material must deliver. "What can an actor do after a point?"

He added, "Alia is not reliant on this picture. She has Alpha with Yash Raj, as well as Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love And War, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. I am sure she will have more ventures.

Atul Mohan, a trade analyst, believes Jigra's lifetime earnings will be about Rs. 25 crores and disagrees with the others, adding, "It does affect when an actor's solo lead film does not perform well."

However, he insisted that the widespread trolling for Alia on social media is unimportant. "Social media negativity doesn't affect at all," he told me. "Many of the tweets may possibly be generated by bots. Some of those tweeting are fokats who won't even have the 'jigra' to pay to see the movie! Many of them are anonymous, meaning they have no name or face. As a result, one should never allow so-called trolling to disrupt their personal lives. The expression goes, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'. Similarly, what happens on social media should remain on social media!”

Taran Adarsh signed off by saying, “Jigra is like a speed breaker for Alia Bhatt but the journey ahead will continue to be smooth.”

[bolllywoodhungama]

The Shah Rukh Khan film Jawan is a big hit in Tamil Nadu, where it is predicted to be the biggest Hindi film ever.

While most Bollywood actors choose remakes of South Indian films, Shah Rukh Khan made an exception. For Jawan, he hired a director from the Tamil film business, Atlee. Actors like as Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, who are well-known in the South, have also joined the cast. In the Tamil market, Atlee is also a rising celebrity. As a result, Jawan has sparked a historic frenzy not only in Hindi-speaking areas but also in Tamil Nadu. This is evidenced by the fact that advance booking has opened to a brisk response.

"The advance booking is very good," said Ruban Mathivanan of GK Cinemas in Chennai. It's viewed as a Tamil film in this country. If the material is successful, Jawan will be unstoppable in Tamil Nadu. It could turn into another RRR or KGF."

"Jawan can emerge as the biggest Hindi film," he acknowledged, adding, "the buzz picked up after the event in Chennai and after the trailer was released." On August 30, the film's pre-release ceremony was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu's capital. This much-anticipated event will take held at Chennai's Sri Sairam Engineering College, according to Bollywood Hungama.

Furthermore, Jawan will face no objection from local Tamil releases. "Some small films are releasing on September 8," Ruban Mathivanan added. It will not compete with Jawan." "The makers are targeting a huge number down South," said Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar. As you can see, Jawan is a Tamil film starring a North star. The director and key actors come from the South. I wouldn't be astonished if it grosses Rs. 10 crores on the first day in Tamil."

Jawan also stars Sanya Malhotra, Sunil Grover, Ridhi Dogra, and Yogi Babu in addition to Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, and Vijay Sethupathi.

Jawan is predicted to perform well in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. On Friday, September 1, Venkat Prasad, Senior Manager of Programming at Hyderabad's famed theatre, Prasads, was all grins as he informed us, "The advance is tremendous." We opened booking for a very restricted number of concerts. And all eight shows were sold out in record time."

"The advance booking is more than any Hindi film and also quite fast," he added. "Even the weekend shows are quickly filling," he noted. We'll gradually increase the number of shows now."

[salmankhanholics]

★ Salman Khan Belongs To The Big Screen!

04 January, 2021 

Exhibitors petition superstar, say a Salman Khan theatrical release vital to restoring business.

You could take away the industry's finest offerings, but steal Bhai from the big screen and exhibitors are certain to react. For years, Salman Khan has played to the gallery, and, in turn, enabled distributors to rake in the moolah.

So, news of the actor selling the rights of his upcoming magnum opus, Radhe to an OTT platform didn't sit well with the latter. In a bid to give the film business a promising chance at recovery, exhibitors were quick to appeal to the actor to revoke his decision.

Seventeen exhibitor associations have appealed to Khan to avoid pursuing a hybrid Zeeplex release, even though the decision of releasing the film on the big screen is yet to be arrived at. Exhibitor Vishek Chauhan says, "We are not against the simultaneous screening of the film, but, if one has the option of watching it at home, why would they go to the theatre?"

Khan's has been one among the big-budget movies that the 7,000 single-screen owners in India have been banking on to recover from a lacklustre 2020. "The film releases in May. With the cases of the infection down to a minimum right now, coupled with the ongoing vaccination drive, things are looking up. Selling as off the film at this stage is not a wise move."

Trade analyst Akshaye Rathi says the move must have come as a blow to single-screens owners. "Multiplexes can make money, but, for single screens, a Salman Khan-film could be the boost that they require. Treating the theatrical release as a token, and releasing the film on a wider scale online will adversely affect business." mid-day reached out to producer Atul Agnihotri, who remained unavailable.

[salmankhanholics]

★ Barbaad ho rahe hai hum log”: Single-screen exhibitors DISAPPOINTED & ANGRY with Disney+ Hotstar’s 7 films announcement : Bollywood News!

June 30, 2020

Since more than a month, there have been speculations that Disney+ Hotstar, one of the biggest streaming platforms, has acquired more than a half-a-dozen films for a direct OTT release due to the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. Today, on June 29, the suspense was finally unveiled and it came to light that as many as 7 films will skip theatrical release and arrive straightaway on the internet. These films are Akshay Kumar’s horror comedy Laxmmi Bomb, Ajay Devgn’s war saga Bhuj – The Pride Of India, Sushant Singh Rajput’s last film Dil Bechara, Mahesh Bhatt’s directorial comeback Sadak 2, Abhishek Bachchan’s stock market drama The Big Bull, Kunal Kemmu’s comic caper Lootcase and Vidyut Jammwal’s action love story Khuda Hafiz.

As expected, the exhibitors are disappointed with this historic announcement. Already, they have been suffering since cinemas are shut since more than 3 months. And with the lockdown getting extended in most major states to July-end, they are all set to suffer more. In such a scenario, to see 7 films going straight to OTT, including few star-studded ventures which could have drawn audiences to cinemas in big numbers, have not just saddened them but also infuriated the exhibitors. While the representatives of multiplex chains were unavailable, the single-screen exhibitors have openly made their displeasure clear.

Akshaye Rathi, film exhibitor and distributor, says, “We all saw it coming since 1 ½ months. Hence, we were all prepared to see this happening. As an exhibitor, I’d say that it’s a bit disappointing because some of these films could have actually played a role in resurrecting the very medium that made them such big stars.” A very angry Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Bihar, angrily tells, “I think Bollywood has jumped the gun and have pressed the panic button too early. This will have a very bad long-term impact on the Hindi film industry.” Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise theatre in Jaipur states, “I am not very happy with this announcement. They should have waited for some more time, at least two more months. I understand that they have invested heavily in these films and they must have had their reasons. But in this time of crisis, we should support each other.”

Vishek Chauhan makes it clear that “Bollywood is in danger, theatres are not” and also adds, “People feel that right now that the theatres will suffer if Hindi films will arrive on TV or OTT. Hollywood started this trend of releasing films on streaming platforms in the lockdown and the first film to do so was Trolls World Tour. But that film could be accessed through PVOD (Premium Video-On-Demand) and not SVOD (Subscription Video-On-Demand). So you have to pay $19.99 to buy the film and then you get to watch it. In our case, the accessibility is so easy for these new films that you’re films would be counted in the same breath as Aarya and Chaman Bahaar. Look at Gulabo Sitabo – it came and it went in no time. My point is that, what makes actors stars is when people take the trouble of heading to a cinema hall, standing in a queue and then watching them perform on the big screen. So if Akshay Kumar’s film will be accessible online without any effort at home, Akshay Kumar is then no longer that star! He and Ajay Devgn just killed their own stardom. Disney has kept its Hollywood film, Black Widow, ready. Even James Bond’s No Time To Die is ready for release. But these films are being held for theatrical release. Toh fir yeh log kyun apni film online release kar rahe hai?”

The thoughts of Sandeep Jain, an exhibitor from Indore and Bhopal, are in sync. He states, “What they are doing is wrong. They are trying to destroy the medium that made them such big stars. Has there been any star from OTT? Alia Bhatt became a craze because she debuted in Student Of The Year, which released in cinemas. Same goes for other actors.”

Vishek Chauhan further adds, “Suriya is not giving his away film to the internet. Vijay hasn’t given his finished film Master to an OTT platform. Same goes for Dhanush, Chiyaan Vikram and Mahesh Babu. They have all declined the offer from OTT because they know where their stardom comes from. And look at our Bollywood actors. They are killing their stardom which they painstakingly cultivated over the years. They are forgetting that stardom jaane mein time nahi lagta hai.”

Other exhibitors too agree that they’ll now give preference to films of other languages. Akshaye Rathi opines, “Theatres have survived a hundred years and will survive long enough. The only thing that might change is the content that reaches the theatrical medium. If you see, in every other industry, from Southern to Hollywood, all the tent pole films have been held back for theatrical. So if these Hindi films don’t release, there will be enough Hollywood and Southern films in dubbed Hindi versions and also regional films that will take that space and keep bringing people to cinemas so that they keep getting their share of entertainment.” Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 multiplex in Mumbai, popularly known as Gaiety-Galaxy cinema complex, agrees as he says, “We’ll now give preference to South films which are dubbed in Hindi. Also, we’ll show dubbed Hollywood flicks. And I am sure audiences will come to these films as these films have lot of entertainment. The action in Hollywood films is amazing. As for South films, their action too is a visual delight. Also, their songs make for a great watch.”

Vishek Chauhan also argues that OTT won’t give these films the desired and the deserved viewership. He says, “Uday Shankar (The Walt Disney Company [Asia Pacific] and Chairman, Star & Disney India) is claiming that there are 50 crore smartphones in India and hence the reach is tremendous for these 7 films. If that’s the case, then why does your platform have just 80 lakhs subscribers? At least, Akshay Kumar’s films in cinemas gets footfalls of 2 or 2.5 crore. Your subscriber base is less than half of that. Bollywood has to decide for whom they are making the film. If they give films on the internet, then Bollywood will become an OTT industry.”

Thankfully, not all is lost. There are still many big Bollywood films which will come directly to theatres. Akshaye Rathi exults, “There are quite a few Hindi films as well like Sooryavanshi, ’83, Coolie No 1, Radhe etc which will make it to cinemas.” Raj Bansal in agreement says, “Those who will hold their films will get more benefit. It’s a matter of time.”

However, the other industries are already all set to take advantage. Vishek Chauhan reveals, “The day Disney+ Hotstar announced and hinted about releasing 7 films on OTT, Warner Bros sent a mail to all the exhibitors in the country that their Hollywood films Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984 releasing only in theatres. Universal Pictures also regularly tells us that they are releasing No Time To Die only in theatres. The idea behind these messages is that if Bollywood steps aside, then Hollywood will have a free run in cinemas of India. Similarly, down South, producers have asked us to let their films release simultaneously in North and Western belt.”

As of now, exhibitors are suffering immensely and the Disney+ Hotstar announcement has added to their woes. Manoj Desai rues, “Barbaad ho rahe hai hum log aur digital platforms aabaad ho rahe hai. Aaj Maharashtra meinJuly 31 tak lockdown extend ho gaya lekin Uddhav Thackeray ji ne theatres ke baare mein ek lafz nahi bola hai.”

Sandeep Jain has the last word and he is confident that once the lockdown is lifted, exhibitors will benefit. “Once things get back to normal, viewers will forget OTT and will come to cinemas. Even when VCR technology had arrived, we had faced some problems. Right now, with theatres shut, these platforms are getting so much importance. But later on, audiences will flock to theatres just like old times.”