Can movie halls reclaim their pre-pandemic life?

Movie halls open!! When this announcement headlined across all major media platforms sometime back, it was met with mixed responses. Why? Shouldn’t the producers, distributors, directors, stars and all ancillary units connected with the movie biz have been cartwheeling with relief and joy singing Happy days are here again?

Sadly, that wasn’t the case because the general feeling was that, while the pandemic had lessened, it hadn’t totally vanished. The unspoken message was this unlock meant allowing people to emerge from the shadows and see the light. A little like being out on bail! Freedom, yes, but constantly looking over your shoulders. While the lunatic fringe – everywhere – will always exist to play dangerous disruptor behaving in flamboyant irresponsible manner, the majority continue to remain hyper-careful and play the waiting game and this includes the die-hard movie-hall owners’ fraternity. The long (almost year long) curfew has clearly put the fear of god in most and jettisoned us into an alternate space with new rules of the game.

In this book of do’s and dont’s, the terror of COVID-19 continues to be perceived as a weapon of mass distraction. Watching movies in a hall seems to have been deleted in the general scheme of things with OTT replacing it, full-on. While the pros and cons of this invasion have been done to death, the real issue is: What is the feedback from the industry relating to life before, during and after this announcement? How do they see the future?

Internationally renowned award-winning film-maker Gautam Ghosh takes first strike. “It’s a very curious situation. On the one hand, while caution, even paranoia and fear psychosis rules and entering crowded spaces like movie halls is taboo, some plays in the city of Kolkata are playing to packed houses! How? Why? Has the Pandemic played Solomon, Judge & Jury, differentiated between the boys and the men and the culturally-driven from the hoi-polloi? Has it been kinder to the arts than commerce in the public domain and offered them more immunity? We live in strange and troubled times, brother.”

Another eminent voice follows. Sandip Ray – gifted son of the legendary film-maker Satyajit Ray whose centenary falls this year - confesses that he has never been so bewildered in his entire life. “Suddenly, the present and future are under siege and all ideas, plans or blueprints appear to be in that impossible middle-of-the-in-between space! The motivation to get started in right earnest is missing. Assuming one starts some part of the pre-production work, what about the rest – shooting and release? The occupancy in theatre halls is near non-existent – by all reports – so from where does the ROI come? It’s easily the most frustrating phase of my life and I can only hope and pray that normalcy returns fast.”

Not all seem to be so grim and worried. A young actress – who doesn’t wish to disclose her name – pooh-poohs these comments, calling them “darpoks, kill-joys!” She believes that in these difficult times, it’s the bold thought-leaders who should lead the way with dynamism. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going, right? The trick is to look for solutions. Aren’t tons of films, pan-India, being made and released? So, what’s the big deal? This paranoia will only go when some brave souls take the fearless initiative to bell the cat- meaning go to the halls and see movies. Once this movement starts and people can see you’ve returned COVID-free and alive, the trickle will start. So film-makers and audiences, snap out man, and make it happen!”

Bangalore-based Mass communication student, 20 year old Ayesha Sen is shocked. “Who is this delusionary creature? Is she living in the real world? Doesn’t she look, read, hear and see the deadly curse that this phase has inflicted on the movie industry, with special reference to movie theatres? Tons of single-screen halls have packed up and the multiplexes too are going through shit creek. Sure, movies are being made, but most are being gobbled up by the OTT platforms. Check out the fate of movies in the halls where less than ten per cent occupancy happens! Check out the situation with hall-owners before posturing and shooting the mouth!”

What do the Cinema hall owners say? Saurabh Ghosh of Basusree Cinema – once an acknowledged gem among South Kolkata’s halls where Pather Panchali released and was the first pick of many of the most celebrated films. Also, the setting of several hi-profile music programmes where the late legendary superstar Uttam Kumar enthusiastically participated. He can only lament on those golden days. “Actually, the multiplexes really hurled the first stone towards our single screen downfall. Their dazzling package of movies, shops and restaurants in glamorous, air-conditioned comfort totally seduced the critical mass, the younger generation with disposable income and new-age tastes and preferences. That was a major blow. The big movies that once automatically came to us, also lessened the frequency. It’s a vicious circle. If you don’t generate revenues, you can’t upgrade halls and if your halls are not upgraded, you can’t get revenue! That was pre-pandemic. During the pandemic, it was hell! There were zero pay-ins, only pay-outs in terms of salaries to the staff, basic maintenance of the hall, etc. Many old, cherished and established theatres in Kolkata were forced to shut down. The double whammy of the Pandemic and OTT further rendered a death-blow to the single-screen market. Even the multiplexes have taken a solid hit. Presently, we are all faced with the worst times in our lives. Let’s hope and pray we come out of it soon.”

A senior executive of the INOX group of cinemas follows and articulates what he thinks is the general predicament facing the multiplex universe in India. “There are basically three factors that drive this issue. The first has to be a conscious and sub-conscious tension about life in a crowded space. Is it safe? The second has to be the quality and content of the films that come to the multiplexes. Unlike earlier times, the big films have stopped their releases, many preferring to go the OTT route. They are playing the wait-and-watch game. Please don’t get taken in by the big announcements of the big Bollywood production houses relating to films targeting theatres. They’ll cross the bridge when they come to it. Lastly, disposable money. Spending power has taken a huge hit because of the lockdown, lay-offs, cut-in-salaries etc. and OTT hasn’t helped! So, everything considered, it’s the longest INTERVAL in our lifetime!”

Let’s hope and pray that this wonderful world, which is a ribbon of dreams and a visa to the never-land-of-happy-ever-after is reclaimed by its beloved constituency, the audiences!