Movie Theatres

Since March 25, 2021, Lockdown has been imposed affecting Movie Theatre Supply Chain right from the Theatre to Production Team. Cinema Shootings stopped & workers in the industry had nowhere to go. Never in the past few decades did Movie Industry actually slow down nor did the workers ever expect a complete shutdown. Workers who save through chits or borrow from chit funds totally collapsed due to daily wages being shut for prolonged period. .

OTT filled the gap with many movies being released there. OTT gave the space for new directors to turn out budget movies which attracted good number of audiences. Many young directors led the nation in churning around good movies. Of all the Movies on OTT, Kerala directors led with fresh stories, covering various topics while rest of industry continued their age old formulas. Thx to OTT Platforms with subtitles, viewers across the globe had access to Good Cinema.

Though theatres opened partially in later half of 2021, moviegoers had declined since there were no star movies and viewers found it economical to watch a movie in OTT space rather than spending 2000 rs upward going to a Mall Movie theatre. 200 rs for a small popcorn packet. Lockdown has definitrely caused a disruption in movie goers. Unless Some good story movies come back and 50 % seating capacity is reduced, families are not coming back to movies anytime soon. 

All along, middle class audiences not having any other form of entertainment found respite in movies. Movie industry hence did not democratize & talent became restricted to few groups. Others were not given chances since they would not find exhibitors willing to give theatres to them. As such, small directors did not get chance. OTT has opened that space. Viewers have become more discerning as well. They ae not going to spend on a movie just because he has a background. Sushant Singh Rajput's death has opened the industry's woes to the entire nation. It is clear that Industry across the country is closed to outsideres. It is Insiders across all languages that get the chances. Viewers have got choices now and hence they are going to spend only if the movie has a story.

Gone are the days when only a few names mattered, not the story. Now story is important, not the family or group or affiliation.OTT has seen several kerala directors proving mark with their small budgets and small cast but with touching stories. These genre movies will continue to play in the OTT space and will continue to occupy bandwidth of discerning viewers.

People are not willing to spend on multiplex food which is main cost component than ticket price unless there is a good movie.