The popular verdict is that a majority of Bollywood films aren’t working in the theatres these days. Having said that, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 did phenomenally well. So it’s not like people have stopped going to the theatres altogether. If there is a promising film then people will take out the time to watch it before it releases on an OTT platform.
So what can filmmakers do to attract the audience to the theatres? Rahul Dholakia, who was the director of the Shahrukh Khan starrer film Raees, took to Twitter to list a few points.
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Make better films, reduce the cost of production, reduce ticket prices, avoid releasing films on OTT for 3 months, be inclusive and stop being arrogant – these were the points he listed.
My 2 cents on what needs to be done by our fraternity:
1. Make better films.
2. Reduce COP
3. Reduce ticket prices drastically
4. Not release films on OTT for 3 month
5. Stop being Arrogant. be inclusiveMaybe this will help?
— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) August 18, 2022
However, several people online shared many other points that filmmakers need to keep in mind. Things like not making remakes, finding better actors, making films that are rooted in Indian culture, etc. were highlighted. Have a look:
6. No remakes
7. Spend more money on production. Actors can get into profit sharing maybe
8. Find better writers
9. Fire the entire team who makes trailers for bollywood. Bollywood trailers suck
10. Make auditions compulsory so that we don’t get to see doll expressions— Preetam Rao (@Preetam_M_Rao) August 19, 2022
Well said, sir. I’m glad people from the industry are speaking up. I will however, respectfully disagree on the COP point as that’s often strained as it is. The ATL numbers though could use a lot of trimming. It’s absurd when ATL constitutes 60% of a film’s cost & COP is 40%.
— Vijay Venkataramanan (@khadoosji) August 18, 2022
I think the 4th one is valid from a businessman prospective. As a commoner if I know that the movie will come on OTT platform in a short span of time why to waste money, if not sure about its content. 5th one is more political, I hope journalists & artists could be non political.
— Ashish Ranjan (@ranjanashish72) August 18, 2022
3rd point imp.
Can multiplex prices go below 100 INR for low,mid-budget film?
Can they stop selling Popcorn 🍿 for 400+
Samosa for 200+
That’s more than ticket.
Better to keep FDFS at subsidized rate.— Bhaijaan on 30th December (@BeingSaurebh) August 19, 2022
And please pay on time to assistants, editors, spot boys and all crew members…saal saal bhar payment k liye ghumna padta hai baddua to lagegi na🙏🏻
— kush tripathi (@coolboyKT) August 18, 2022
1. Don’t take money from D Co
2. Make films resembling to realities
3. Don’t mock religious sentiments of Majoritian
Bcuz without Majoritian you are no better than a begger in better outfits4. Show the reality not the concocted story to please your foreign pay masters
— উত্তর পূর্বাঞ্চলের রাণী Queen of NE🇮🇳🇧🇷🇷🇺 (@Sweet_HoneygaI) August 19, 2022
Declare source of funds
Stop nepotism
Make Karan Johar wear better clothes
Stop exploiting young girls by making them romance 50 plus actors
Dont treat hindus as second class citizens
Stop remaking South movies
dont make biopics with wrong actors – no appropriation— JKGuy (@VishalGBhat) August 19, 2022
Good post in spirit. My top 3:
1.Tour the country to feel the pulse of the country.
2.Bring originality = stop copying/making remakes. India now has access to the Originals
3.Bring new talented actors = stop nepotism. Mr.Dholakia didn’t dare to include this— Sujay Dutta (@sujayd) August 20, 2022
Stop ridiculing our Hindu culture.
Stop being out of touch with real India
Stop being lazy with scripts
Please remember India is not South Bombay
Hindi films today lack Indian soul in them and that makes emotional connect difficult— 🇮🇳Mohini🇮🇳 (@mohini23451) August 18, 2022
Do you think that the above-mentioned points are valid?