PVR Opens Up About Producers Opting To Release Films Directly On Streaming Platforms
After the makers of several films like Gulabo Sitabo and Shakuntala Devi announced their release on OTT platforms, PVR Pictures has opened up about the decision
After
the
makers
of
several
films
like
Gulabo
Sitabo
and
Shakuntala
Devi
announced
their
release
on
OTT
platforms,
PVR
Pictures
has
opened
up
about
the
decision,
that
may
harm
the
theatre
industry
post-pandemic.
On
Friday,
PVR
Pictures'
spokesperson
said
that
they
are
disappointed
with
the
producers,
who
are
bypassing
the
traditional
theatrical
route
for
releases.
PVR,
which
is
the
biggest
theatre
chain
in
India,
believes
the
theatrical
experience
will
always
be
the
best
medium
for
audiences
to
enjoy
movies.
Kamal
Gianchandani,
CEO
of
PVR
Pictures,
told
PTI,
"As
PVR,
we
believe
that
the
theatrical
release
is
the
best
way
for
audiences
to
experience
the
labour
and
creative
genius
of
our
filmmakers.
This
has
been
so
for
decades
and
not
just
in
India
but
globally."
Gulabo
Sitabo
To
Release
On
Amazon
Prime
Video
Gianchandani
said,
the
ongoing
COVID-19
crisis
has
caused
shutdown
but
post-pandemic,
once
the
situation
returns
to
normalcy,
people
will
opt
to
watch
films
in
theatres.
"We
are
confident,
once
we
get
to
the
other
side
of
this
crisis,
there
will
be
enough
and
more
pent
up
demand
from
cine-goers
who
have
been
cooped
up
at
homes
for
the
last
many
weeks.
We
are
likely
to
see
demand
by
force
on
a
sustained
basis,
once
we
reopen."
He
added,
"exhibitors
have
asked
producers
to
hold
back
their
film's
release
till
cinemas
reopened.
Needless
to
say,
we
are
disappointed
with
some
of
our
producers
deciding
to
go
straight
to
the
streaming
platform/s."
INOX's
Statement
On
OTT
Film
Releases
Another
theatre
chain,
INOX
has
also
expressed
its
concern
in
a
statement
released
on
Thursday
said,
they
are
"extreme
displeasure
and
disappointment" over
the
move.
The
growing
content
on
OTT
platform
has
threatened
the
theatre
business
even
before,
but
many
filmmakers
have
stayed
loyal
to
the
theatrical
experience
and
developed
more
authentic
content
for
cinema-goers.
Shakuntala
Devi
To
Release
On
Amazon
Prime
Video
"I
would
also
like
to
use
this
opportunity
to
express
our
appreciation
for
all
the
producers
who
have
publicly
voiced
their
support
for
the
theatrical
platform
and
have
decided
to
reschedule
their
releases
to
accommodate
the
reopening
of
cinemas," Gianchandani
added.
7
Film
To
Release
On
Amazon
Prime
Video
Amazon
Prime
Video,
earlier
today
announced
that
seven
films
across
several
languages
will
directly
release
on
their
platform.
Apart
from
Vidya
Balan's
Shakuntala
Devi,
and
Amitabh
Bachchan
and
Ayushmann
Khurrana's
Gulabo
Sitabo,
Tamil
legal
drama
Ponmagal
Vandhal,
Tamil-Telugu
bilingual
movie
Penguin,
Sufiyum
Sujatayum
in
Malayalam
and
Kannada
features
Law
and
French
Biryani,
will
stream
for
the
first
time
on
the
platform.