After a prolonged due to coronavirus, theatres globally have opened and are witnessing strong footfalls. The film business in India are hoping for the unlocking of cinemas in India as well.
Bollywood is looking towards tentpoles films Sooryavanshi and 83 to bring the audience back to the theatres in 2020. Its because, if at all the cinema halls open in 2020, it is only going to be the big-ticket films that will bring back the audiences in large numbers back to the theatres.
While the makers of both the big-budget films Sooryavanshi and 83 are still hopeful for a theatrical release, they have also started exploring the option of taking the digital route in case cinemas do not reopen anytime soon.
However, if that happens (Sooryavanshi and 83 taking the digital route), it will deal a big blow to cinemas across India as already several big films like Akshay Kumar’s Laxmmi Bomb, Ajay Devgn’s Bhuj, have taken the direct OTT (Over the Top) route.
Sushant Singh Rajput’s Dil Bechara, Vidya Balan’s Shakuntala Devi, were among the few Bollywood films that were first released on OTT.
In case Sooryavanshi and 83 take the digital route to release their films, cinema halls will be left with no new film for theatrical release and it will further impact the cinema business, so it is important for theatres to reopen in the next two months or so.
However, things do not look very optimistic as of now. While the government is considering reopening cinema halls in India by September, it’s only the independent cinema halls that will be allowed to reopen; theatres located in multiplexes are unlikely to get a go-ahead anytime soon.
