With the breakout of Covid-19, people have shifted more towards the OTT platforms.
Bollywood actor, Abhay Deol, has tried his hands on web content and shared his thoughts on the growth of OTT in India.
Abhay Deol says, “It’s the only alternative when theatres are shut. After some time, when everything would be fine, people will have the choice to either go to cinemas or stay at home [and consume web content]. People should be allowed to choose, and that’s what’s called technology, progress. There’s no point getting in their way, so might as well embrace it.”
The actor has been a part of the web film Chopsticks (2019) and the recent show 1962: The War in the Hills and feels that the OTT platforms have done a lot of good.
“It has democratized the process. These platforms make a film with a big star and big budget, and the same platform makes a small film with nobody known. Both are owned by the same platform and they’ll market it equally, unlike small films which barely get any screen space, and almost no marketing money and presence in the media,” says Deol.
“If there was just Bollywood and theatrical, you have to conform to the Bollywood norm of what a hero and heroine looks like. OTT platforms can serve you that because there’s an audience for it, but they can also serve a Delhi Crime. That’s why there are actors who’ve always existed but were never given a chance because they didn’t conform to Bollywood formula…” Abhay Deol continued.
Abhay believes that in Hollywood, people of color got a lot of main lead roles in the West because ethnic stories got highlighted.
“Diversity started to get represented. Because you wouldn’t see that in mainstream Hollywood, all that was left to watch in cinemas was something spectacular like superhero films. The good drama went to TV,” he continues
Abhay went on to say “It’s the same here… Bollywood has always been about spectacle. We haven’t had any indie film industry as such, or alternatives to Bollywood formula. That’ll continue in theatres, at least now we get an alternative to it which we never had before.”
However, if given a choice, Abhay Deol would love to see his films in theatres.
“Don’t get me wrong. I tried to make non-formula films way before OTT came into being. The only chance I got to make them and get a theatrical release was because it was at a time when multiplexes were just coming up. For a brief moment, there was exhibition space,” he continued.
“Slowly, they got money, bought space, and didn’t allow small films to get any space whatsoever. Without any support from the government, an independent industry couldn’t exist. OTT came in to show that we as a culture are capable of far more than what Bollywood shows us. If we have to sacrifice theatrical (release) for that, so be it,” Abhay goes on to explain.