Entertainment India: Producer’s of India responds at multiplexes and theater owners on the digital release of movies.

Call the choice to publish films right on the OTT platforms as the “need of the hour”, show frustration to the difference shown by some exhibitors.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all theatres and multiplexes were closed in lieu of social distancing. At first, everyone thought of it as a monthly vacation, but as the Coronavirus numbers climb, some filmmakers have decided to not wait anymore for a theatrical and have decided to release their films on Over The Top Media (OTT) platforms. 

It is evident that even after the end of lockdown, social distancing norms will have to be followed by the multiplexes and a question of the film earning and reaching to the broad audience is justified, which means Indian entertainment department looking gloomy for atlist six months.

Validating the speculations, Shoojit Sircar on Thursday, announced that his film, Gulabo Sitabo – starring Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana would straight away release on Amazon Prime Video on 12th June. 

Amazon Prime Video will also be the platform for the release of Vidya Balan’s film, Shakuntala Devi, which was announced on Friday. 

Multiplexes have criticized those decisions and requested the makers to wait for the theatres to re-open. T

The Producer’s Guild of India, on Friday, released an official announcement regarding the controversy and defended the decision by calling it “the need of the hour”. 

In the statement, it is described how much money has been put on the films and waiting for the theatres to open might see the producers and distributors incur heavy losses. 

The statement says this is a time for the entire film industry to come mutually with empathy and help for the problematic predicament that each of our constituents find themselves in. 

It is frustrating to see rough and nonconstructive messaging from some of our colleagues in the exhibition sector. 

Statements that call for “retributive measures” against producers who decide to take their movies direct to OTT platforms – especially at a time when cinemas are unfortunately closed for the foreseeable future – do not lend themselves to a constructive or a collaborative dialogue on the way forward for the industry.”  

The Produce’s Guild of India also pointed out how they will have to expect lesser returns due to low occupancy in lieu with the social distancing guidelines.