Theatre owners against online release of films

Priyanka Dasgupta | TNN | Updated: May 5, 2020, 10:52 IST

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KOLKATA: As the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) called for unity on Monday to ensure exclusive theatrical window release of movies, Ratan Saha, chairman of the exhibitors’ section of Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) requested producers not to release their movies on OTT (Over the top) platforms, fearing that such a move will force the existing single screens to shut down in Bengal after the lockdown is lifted.
The chairman has also requested the state government to grant permission to hall owners so that they can travel to their theatres for ensuring regular maintenance of digital projectors, sound systems, generators and online ticket machines.

Before the lockdown was imposed, the number of functional theatres in the state had come down to 16. On January 23, Talkie Show House — the last of the single screen theatres in eastern India to have screened the glories of both Hollywood and Indian movies in the silent and sound era — bit the dust. It was the city’s first single screen theatre that was shut down in 2020. The next blow came with the closure of Roxy on March 12.
Uncertainty looms large for all existing single screen theatre owners while the news of negotiations regarding OTT release of new movies during the lockdown adds more to it. Saha described the move as thr last nail in the coffin, saying, “At the turn of the century, Bengal had 800 single screen theatres. Now, we have 225. If films are released on OTT during the lockdown, single screens will become dinosaurs in Bengal.”
Staying at home, Saha added, might ensure that Covid-19 doesn’t kill those associated with movie exhibition. “But this lockdown is killing their livelihood. If new Bengali movies opt for theatrical releases, it might as well sound the death knell for all of us,” he rued.
Arijit Dutta, owner of Priya, understands the plight of single screen owners too well. But he also feels for producers who want to cut losses. “I don’t see single screen theatres opening immediately after the lockdown is lifted. I can understand the fear of producers who have made medium budget movies. They will only get a show or two when theatres reopen and might not be able to recover the costs soon. Meanwhile, exhibitors like us are worried because once people get used to watching movies on OTT, it will be difficult to woo them back to theatres. We have to find a middle path so that we can survive,” said Dutta.
Suranjan Paul, owner of Minar, Bijali and Chhabighar, said the option of OTT releases that bypass the theatrical window is an outcome of “crisis-thinking”. “That will need recalibration of fees of stars and satellite rights of movies. Also, the feature films might not be able to compete with the production values of international web series. If they have fresh content, they will return to our theatres,” Paul added.