The pandemic has caused a significant change in how people consume content. The popularity of OTT platforms has led to a reluctance among audiences to spend money on watching movies in theaters, with many opting to wait for OTT releases instead. Sri Crazyminds, speaking to Bangalore Times after a session on film editing at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF), notes, "After the lockdown, with the proliferation of OTT platforms, everything is now accessible on mobile devices."
He highlights the decline in people's attention spans, stating that it is challenging to motivate someone comfortably seated and watching content on their phone to go out and watch a movie in a theater. The convenience of watching at home versus the effort required to go to a theater, buy tickets, and snacks has contributed to this shift in behavior. Sri emphasizes that strong content is essential to attract audiences to cinemas, as people these days are less likely to take the effort to watch a movie unless the content is compelling.
He points out the importance of high-quality content and effective marketing in attracting audiences to theaters. Sri observes that Kannada movies face challenges due to the need for exceptional content, unlike films from the Malayalam industry which historically have been known for their strong storytelling. He also notes the competition faced by Kannada cinema from other regional industries and the plethora of choices available to audiences, leading to decision-making difficulties.
Releasing a movie today involves significant financial investment, with at least ₹1 crore needed for a smooth release. Sri Crazyminds stresses the importance of creating engaging content and effective promotion strategies to drive audiences to theaters in a landscape where OTT platforms offer convenient alternatives.Approximately 400 movies are submitted to the censor board for approval, but only around 200 make it to theater screens. I believe these challenges collectively constitute the heart of the issue.
