This ties in directly with the surge in smartphone usage a statistic that India leads globally, with users spending roughly five hours a day on their smartphones, the highest in the world. The smartphone has allowed young creators to find their expression through short-form content, and they have begun pushing the limits on what traditional media has defined as content. This burst of creativity has come predominantly from non-metro cities, signalling a potentially untapped market for creators of all kinds.
Of course, the big question everyone is asking is will audiences come back to the cinemas or has this last year made them so used to on-demand content that they will not want to go through the trouble anymore?
Multiplex chain operators and single-screen cinemas have been suffering from the lack of a fresh slate of releases, poor footfalls and mandated restrictions. While the current numbers depict a grim picture, I do believe the experience of the cinema is beyond the realm of pure convenience and accessibility. The big movie experience is a communal experience that has been built and nurtured over more than a century. Our industry will doubtless need to bring fresh stories to the big screen in a manner that tempts audiences enough to step out and immerse themselves in them. Not only will this improve the quality of cinema, but also inject more confidence into risk-taking movie-makers in the business, leading to a virtuous cycle. And if you’re still more trusting of the cold numbers, a survey by the Multiplex Association of India last year revealed that 83 percent of respondents admitted that they missed watching movies at cinema halls. So there!
Our biggest strength as a nation has always been our diversity. The kaleidoscope of thoughts, ideas, experiences and personalities that come together to give us our unique place in the sun.
In the same way, notwithstanding the current headwinds, our industry will thrive due to the myriad ways in which content can now be consumed. The big film experience, the more intimate OTT film, the linear TV family viewing experience, the on-the-go mobile personal entertainer or even the magic of the stage are different arenas for storytelling, which don’t necessarily have to compete. The way forward is a more efficient landscape supported by better infrastructure and hopefully more progressive policy, driven by authentic storytelling and powered by intelligently priced offerings. With this, we still have the potential of being recognised as the world’s cultural hub for storytelling in the decades to come. You may call me a dreamer, but I’m not the only one!
â— The writer is founder and managing director of Roy Kapur Films
First Published: May 11, 2021, 13:24
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