The show after all will go on. For nothing can come between every Indian’s most wanted medium of entertainment — the big picture, even if it happens to be screened on what is now known as small screens of the multiplexes across the country.
Starting June 12, the two-month strike called by the producers and distributors will finally end and three or four movies will hit multiplex screens across the country.
And the ones who are most excited about the resolution of the face off are the die-hard movie buffs, who say that they have been starved of movies and they’re all set to hit the turnstiles with a vengeance.
The stoppage of new releases had hit the multiplexes and the film industry had plunged into crisis as it was robbed of its niche crowd.
Now that the big picture is set to come alive, the two are confident they'd rake in more profits to make up for the loss of the last two months.
Deepak Asher, Director, Inox Leisure Limited and President, Multiplex Association of India, says the biggest benefit from the calling off of the strike is that the producers, distributors and multiplexes have come together.
“We must not fight each other but fight issues that plague the film industry such as piracy and those related to entertainment taxes. I am sure, together, we can increase the revenue by more than 50 per cent,” he says. The multiplexes say they will not hike the ticket prices and will only charge what their customers “are willing to pay”.
So will they now do their innovative bit in luring moviegoers? “Yes. We’re thinking of coming out with special offers such as contests and combo meals. And we’re thrilled that our business is back to normal. We're looking at newer audiences coming in as well,” says a spokesperson with Fame Lido.
Director Kabir Khan is happy that the drought in the film industry is over. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into making a film and when it doesn’t release, it’s a big setback for the industry,” he observes.
Golden star namma Ganesh, now turned producer, is thrilled and thinks with 40-odd new releases slated till December, it’s going to be a festival of films. “I will pick and choose from among the new releases and will go with my family,” says he.
Director K M Chaitanya is happy that the crisis has been resolved without anyone
being taken to ransom. But he wished the Kannada film industry had taken advantage of the situation and screened more Kannada movies in multiplexes during the
strike, which didn't exactly happen.
Those waiting to grab their seats and watch their much-awaited flick are the multiplex regulars who say there’s just nothing that can compensate the big screen effect.
Film-maker Pavitra Chalam, who watches nothing less than five movies a week, says, “We were deprived of movies and now I am just waiting to get back.”
Leena Elizabeth, working with an ad agency in the City, says she couldn’t control her urge to watch movies and would buy CDs but nothing really matches up to the big screen.
A communications expert Prashanth Chandran says he’d never watch a movie in a single screen theatre because there’s no security, whatsoever, no checks and no safety. “Even if the charges are a little high, I would always prefer to go to a multiplex because the experience and ambience is something that is unmatched,” he says.