Thread: "Do Look Now" (Bollywood and DTH)

A recent article in "The Times of India" has prompted me to write this article/blog.

In the article titled "Do Look Now", the writer has put forward the case that Bollywood movies are appearing on DTH (Pay per view) or even regular TV channels within days of their release. The fraternity was shocked when Main aur Mrs. Khanna appeared on PPV within three days of release. This movie was not an exception - the list is fairly long with others such as Wake up Sid, Love Aaj Kal, What's your Rashee, etc. Last week even the hit movie, Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani made its debut on TV. Blue is next in line.

The writer analyzes many factors and concludes that this will be the trend from now on. A source said that the days of long runs at the box office are gone. We shall rarely see a movie running a silver jubilee at the cinemas, golden/diamond/platinum jubilees will be more or less impossible.

80% of the movie's total collection happens in the first week itself and the balance 20% comes in the next three to five weeks. This is because the number of prints released have multiplied many fold. Multiplexes show movies all day long and in multiple shows. Earlier the movie used to be released in a select few cinemas (single screen) and having 3 shows daily.

Now the producers/distributors have found another avenue for garnering fresh revenue - PPV and TV. The DTH sales have resulted into surprising good revenues even for the so called flop movies. Watching on PPV has many advantages to the viewer - a full family can see the movie without breaks in Rs. 75 to Rs. 150, multiple views in the 24 hours window, no hassles of overcharged eatables and exorbitant parking fees, etc.

This move is also to combat piracy.

All this is fine and agreed. But I beg to differ at the root cause - why the need to release movies on PPV/TV so soon? Consider Hollywood:

• Hollywood movies run for at least 8 to 10 weeks before they are available on PPV
• The DVD/Blu-Ray release happens typically 15-20 weeks later - much later for blockbusters.
• Piracy troubles Hollywood as much as Bollywood
• Ticket prices are not cheap in US/UK/Europe either - a typical ticket costs US$ 10 equivalent or more.

In my opinion, there are two culprits.

The first one is the content, i.e., script/story. Bollywood makes the same stale movies year after year, movie after movie. There are basically a few genres: a typical revenge masala, love and romance, a situational comedy sometimes to the point of buffoonery, etc. 90% (maybe 99%?) are meaningless movies, no story, no script, no plot, etc. Just a strong star cast or exotic locales, scenic photography, or good music can only support the movie. A movie is all about telling a story visually. It must have an emotional appeal. Consider the movie Blue. This exemplifies my sentiment.

The second one is the multiplex. The multiplexes have spoilt the movie experience. The tickets are freaking expensive. The popcorn is sold at Rs. 75+. The parking is Rs. 30+. On top of that, the movie starts before you are properly seated in your seat (in order to maximize the print usage). The sound is blarring loud. After spending nearly Rs. 1000, I do not feel that I have got my money's worth. I just don't feel like going to the cinema - in India, that is.

No. I will prefer PPV or a DVD/Blu-Ray disc.

Avatar costs Rs700 in PVR gold, Rs350 in Inox +Rs250 for the glasses, that too on weekdays. How on earth will students buy tickets. If they stop milking us like this, we will probably stop downloading movies...

Btw, in dubai where my dad stays, a bucket (almost actual bucket) of popcorn is just Rs130 (after currency conversion)

rep+

Thanks, Rajan.

High prices by multiplexes is just a side issue though. They are charging these prices because people are still paying them. Boycott them and they will fall in line.

As I said, a movie outing in US is an equally expensive affair for the family. A typical ticket is US$ 10 and popcorn, cheese/jalapeno nachos, etc. and other such eatables typically cost $2 to $5. A family of four will easily spend $50 to $60.

3 Idiots is priced at Rs. 250 at the multiplexes but Rs. 120 at the non-multiplex. The non-multiplex cinema near my home (Rahul cinema to those from Pune), has reasonable parking charges (I don't have to take my car - all of us can walk down), and the screen/sound system is just as good. So guess, where I am catching up on the movie?

No. That was not the theme of the story. The article is focussing on the very rapid release of movies on DTH. Let me be quite clear on this - I am very happy and have no cause to complain. This will perhaps bring the multiplexes to lower the prices. But till the movie is sans a proper story/script, I am afraid that we shall continue to be fed with the trash.

p/s. 3D movies are now released on DVD and Blu-Ray also. The package comes with 4 3D glasses.