Mumbai: No industry is escaping the disruption after the grievous COVID-19 blow and film industry is no exception. Since we will only know what industries weathered this recession best when the storm is over but as of now it would be safe to say that the streaming platforms are one of the few services that witness a surge during the pandemic.
In the Indian film industry, tug of war to secure a holiday season for tentpole films has become a norm now. While Akshay Kumar and John Abraham have a fancy for Independence day, Salman Khan's obsession with Eid is known to all while Aamir Khan prefers the Christmas season for major releases.
This year, however, has been less eventful for the film industry which otherwise is all about bustle and hustle. As if the pandemic was not enough to kill the spirit of the entertainment industry, the untimely demise of celebrated names sent the zeal to the bottom.
Even after the Centre's recent nod to open cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes across India at 50 per cent capacity, big banners are yet to officially announce their list of films ready to release. So, the festival weekend will be all about small to medium budget films this year.
WATCH | Hollywood celebrities and their most talked-about physical features
According to trade pundits, the cinema properties will have to contend with the initial reluctance of the audience to come in. Secondly, though the central government has given a green signal cinema is a state subject and there are certain states that are yet to give approval.
The buzz in the industry hints that it will take four to six weeks for normal walk-ins to happen. To get things rolling again, viewers' trust, and confidence in the safety levels will play a big role to encourage them to return to cinema halls to watch event movies. OTTs are the best alternative in the current situation. Hence, viewership numbers may witness an upward trend on OTT platforms during this Diwali.
During the lockdown, all the small films went to OTT, so technically there is hardly any film left for release. While Akshay Kumar's much-awaited Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh's '83 are reserved for the big screen releases, an explosion of small to medium budget films are ready to drop on the festival of lights.
Akshay and Kiara Advani starrer Laxmii has already premiered on Disney+ Hotstar. Next in the line is Anurag Basu's multistarrer Ludo featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra. It is a dark comedy-drama about four people whose lives collide. The film will be released on Netflix on November 12.
WATCH | Shining bright! The emerging OTT stars
Another film releasing on OTT during Diwali week is Rajkummar Rao's Chhalaang. Pitched as a hilarious yet inspirational journey of a PT master in a semi government-funded school in North India, Chhalaang is slated to release on Amazon Prime Video on November 13.
Coming to webspace, the new season of Aashram looks promising with Bobby Deol reprising the role of a fraud godman, Kashipur Waale Baba Nirala. The chapter 2 will release on November 11 on MXPlayer after the first season impressed viewers and critics alike.
India being a traditional market, filmmakers' first preference will always be a theatrical release. Right now trade experts are expecting 20 to 30 per cent occupancy, but it will gradually increase once moviegoers start visiting cinema halls which have been shut since March-end.
While Diwali is less explosive this year, in the trade, there is a hope that Christmas will have a big release lined up, until then, OTT toh hai na!
