Multiplex Theatres Fear Losses As Filmmakers Opt For Digital Release Of Movies

With uncertainty looming large over opening up of theatre and multiplexes, the fate of movies that are up for release is in jeopardy. Fearing huge financial losses, filmmakers are going exploring alternatives to ensure they get their money back.

As the lockdown kept extending, the pressure on moviemakers has grown enormously. This has led to filmmakers resorting to the desperate measure of having a digital release for their movies so the investment-profit ratio is at least break even.

However, this decision of producers to take their product directly to the digital platform has irked theatres owners. PVR and Inox which have a huge chain of theatres are disappointed at the decision made by movie producers. They feel that a movie is best enjoyed on the big screen and expressed disappointment over the movies being streamed on OTT.

Even the makers of Ayushman Khurrana and Amitabh Bachchan starred Gulabo Sitabo and Vidya Balan's much-awaited biopic on India's human-computer Shakuntala Devi have opted to release their movies on OTT platforms. Shoojit Sarcar's Gulabo Sitabo is slated for digital release on June 12 on Amazon Prime Video.

The theatre owners are naturally disappointed as they feel they will incur huge losses because of the decision of these filmmakers.