Kiccha Sudeep: OTT platforms have been just as helpful as damaging for the film industry

In only two days, Kiccha Sudeep’s Vikrant Rona will be in theatres and he can sit back and relax, after a very hectic promotional tour of the film, which saw him talk to media across platforms and across the country. While talking about his film, which opens in theatres on Thursday, Sudeep has been quoted as saying that people today head out to movie halls only if it is worth their time and effort. Speaking to us, he had said, “People are coming to theatres. They are fed up of staying at home and want to come out. But then a theatre is nothing but a replica of being back in pandemic times – shut inside four dark walls. That is the scarier part of the theatre experience now – you are taking them back to what they just got out from. Having said that, people are not coming to theatres is because you are not giving them a good enough reason to head out. If you see the number of films that are doing well in theatres, there are quite a few, which is encouraging for filmmakers. People are valuing their money and time, but if they feel there’s something worth watching, they will be there.”

In another interview he was asked if OTTs had anything to do with that, to which he said that streaming platforms have been just as helpful as damaging, as they have created a set of audience that truly believes that any which way a film will come to OTT in 3-4 weeks and don’t go to theatres. This, he reckons, is not a large segment. Earlier, he added, when a film would release in a theatre, it was guaranteed a minimum return. Now, even if there is great content, it may not be able to attract attention, as many are waiting for it to come to OTT and then decide that it is a great film. This, feels Sudeep, is a great injustice to films, but he admits that OTTs have given us awareness of what others are doing across the world.