“Movies should not be delineated on the basis of the budget rather content will decide the otherwise. As in future, the subject matter will decide the platform, not the vice versa,” said Pranjal Khandhdiya, the film producer of Mango People Media Networks Pvt Ltd. on the first day of INDICOMMS 2021 organised by SMX Networks.
SMX Networks had organized a two-day Media, Entertainment, and Communication Summit named INDICOMMS 2021 in association with Adamas University (University partner), Innoserv Digital (Digital Partner), ORAI Robotics (AI partner), ASMA, and Asentrek Global (community partner). This mega summit continued for two-day,4th-5th March 2021, with many eminent speakers across the globe. This mega event aimed to examine the current scenario and identify new trends and best practices emerging in the media, communication and entertainment industries.
Change in Content Consumption
There is a huge sea changing pattern in the way content consumption has changed. Like people haven’t stopped eating and breathing, so, people won’t stop watching good content movies, whether released on any platform be it theatre or OTT. There will always be a lookout for good content. Khandhdiya believes, “Storytellers will always be in demand, no matter what the situation is…”
COVID Impact
The 2020 pandemic witnessed a shocking increase in the TRP of shows like Mahabharata and Ramayana. “Who would have predicted that after more than 30 years of release, the audience wi犀利士5mg ll suddenly take interest and shatter all the TRP records?”
The pandemic has affected the theatre-going folks. Movies in a way have been going through a little tough time but that hasn’t stopped the good content creators and storytellers. Each one of the storytellers has found a way to work around it. In a discussion with Tapsee Pannu, he quoted, “we are fighters, there is no point in sitting home, but all the protocols and measures must be taken. Love for work increases creativity.”
Future Projects, OTT and Budget Issues
Khandhdiya’s upcoming film 83 is ready and is going through the post-production phase and was made during the pandemic. Content creation hasn’t stopped but the way has changed. The way the content is going to be consumed is also varying.
Khandhdiya says, “Budget has nothing to do with a film as long as the content is good. If the content requires a big scale projection and collective viewing experience then it must be released in a theatre. If the content is dramatic and storytelling, then it would be beneficial if released on an OTT platform. OTT platform is an added avenue for a content creator as the audience won’t have to wait for that “FRIDAY RELEASE” thing. In today’s world, the viewers are having multiple choices for watching a movie via different OTT platforms.” In the OTT platform, the raw story can be projected without putting in any commercial theme or song. We can explore the bold characters as well as the true stories in our own personalized way via any OTT platform.
“It is the best time for showcasing talents via different OTT platforms,” quoted Khandhdiya. The digital and social platforms have also helped a lot for cast selection and as independent platforms. The entire structure is going through a sea change of new ideas and processes. He further said, “Technology does not restrict creativity but rather enhances. We should not look down upon a certain medium. We should not wait for a particular medium to put up our work. We should embrace what’s available to us and create content for every possible medium.”
The author, Disha Pal is associated with Adamas University Media School.