DIGITAL STREAMING IN INDIA : BENEFITS AND POSSIBILITIES

 

 From the headline of this writeup you may predict the content I have written here. As social beings on earth, we can't step back from the evolutions and revolutions happening here. The set of rules made by our society have been influencing us for decades. Now, this is the time to think broadly and get out of this conventionally conditioned mental state.

  Even when I agree that virtual world have demerits and perilous nature, I want to stand with the 'go with the flow' clause. I hope every person who are reading this writeup now are aware about the digital streaming platforms and many of you may have subscriptions in such platforms. In this post covid era, the digital platform's scope and possibilities are higher. But from the clamourings related to this revolution, I understood that this revolution is infuriating some people a lot and they think this digital streaming platforms are big menaces and it will destroy our Indian cinema culture and commercial viability of films.

  So I decided to analyse and share with you the benefits of online streaming platforms and how it could help both audience and film professionals. Let us check this in detail.

      ADVANTAGE FOR AUDIENCE 

 The very important benefit for the audience is, digital platform saves your money. Most of us have the habit of going to theatres with family at weekends. If your family has four or five members then you must spend an amount of thousand rupees for a film which includes ticket rate, snack's cost and travelling fare. And if you go to theatres every weekend with family, then your monthly film budget will be around four thousand rupees. That means you spend an amount around forty eight thousand rupees in a year to watch new releases with your family. This forty eight thousand would increase when some family members individually go to watch their favourite actor's film. Is this affordable for a family lives in post covid era ? Irrespective of high-class, middle-class and low class differences, this excessive family budget for film watching will make all employed family members grumpy. 

 But you don't need to spend this huge budget to watch newly released films in digital platforms. We have good and classy digital streaming platforms like netflix, amazon prime, zee5, disney+hotstar, etc. Here, you have to take an yearly subscription ( monthly also available ) which costs around thousand or two thousand rupees. The subscription fee varies according to the platform and plan you select. But with this subscription, you can watch all movies here and all you need is a smart phone and an internet connection. You don't need to spend travelling fare, snack's cost etc.

The second benefit but important benefit is, digital platform saves your time. Living with a hustle and bustle life style, many among us are exhausted and complaining that twenty four hours aren't enough to finish whole professional and household routines. When we plan to go for a film, it is hard to find a convenient time for all family members. Then we force ourselves to skip the gym, skip children's tuition and postpone other professional deeds and home works. But you don't need to skip any daily routine to watch a film in netflix or amazon. You can watch it whenever you are free. And you don't need to wait for the convenient time of family members or friends. You can watch it alone. You don't need to wait for cab, don't need to wait for traffic signals, don't need to stand in ticket counter queue. 

 Also, you can control and decide how to watch and when to watch a film. You can watch a film again and again, you can pause and replay and if you want you can skip scenes.You can share the screen with your family members and friends.Besides, you can have films in other languages, web series and other international contents. A very special benefit is the experience.  The cheering and whistling sounds, commotion and awful comments from some audience may ruin your viewing experience. Especially, if you are watching a film which demands a serious and solemn ambience around you, then digital platforms can surely satisfy you.

 I know my readers have already known the above mentioned facts. I just wanted to make you think seriously about this platform in the context of post covid life. 

        ADVANTAGE FOR FILMMAKERS

    We know that there are thousands of aspiring directors, writers and established filmmakers. They have been facing tough situation because of the obstacles between their dream and reality. Because of many reasons, it is hard for them to do a film and take it into theatres. Unlike other nations, we have only a limited number of theatres and only a small percentage of the population come to theatres. But the number of films made is increasing day by day. This makes our theatres more hectic and most of the filmmakers face a delay in the release of their film. They have to wait for a convenient time for their release. Even if they get it, they can't decide and control the theatrical life of their film. Their film would be removed when new releases arrive. Or a director should have a star in lead cast and a good budget to get more number of theatres and long theatrical life.

 But if a director release their film in a digital platform, they don't need to worry about the star value of lead cast, budget and other complications. To release a film in digital platform, they need a good contented story with brilliant execution and the ability to convince the digital platform authorities.

When a second platform open chances to release films, then we could have more number of films in a year and the filmmakers can make their dreams into reality irrespective of star value of actors and the size of budget. Also, they don't need to wait for long to release their film.

 Another important benefit is creative freedom.  We are aware about the highly conservative and wretched censorship in India. Even the digital platforms have limits, filmmakers can avoid the nasty scissors of censor board on their film. And audience can enjoy the film completely without beep sounds and blurred scenes. 

        ADVANTAGE FOR PRODUCER

 Cinema have a commercial aspect too and therefore making financial profit is an essential part. As I mentioned above, the hectic theatre schedules contribute an average profit only to many producers. Only big budget super star films are earning profits. I know there are exceptions but as we are discussing this on post covid era, it is a big question. The number of releases are increasing yearly, monthly and weekly. It is doubtful that every film can get an initial collection or enough theatrical run to make break even status. The financial status of a producer is like an ant trapped amid blaze if his/her film couldn't make profit.And they have to lend money for interest or to take loan for the production of the next film if their last five crore budget film get a one crore theatre profit only.

But the producer can be safe through digital platform release. If the film they produce have good stuff and the producer can convince the buyers with enough selling points then after checking the commercial viability and further discussions they will release the film and producer can get a profitable amount. How much the producer get is unpredictable. It depends on the quality of the content and how much they are impressed with the film. But randomly speaking, it would be more than the budget they spent. It is a fact that the producer can't make a huge profit like from theatres. But they will be safe here because the profit they get is not based on the audience response and reach of the film.

I am not against theatrical release. I love to watch a film in theatre and the experience is completely different in online watching. What I am saying is, if there is a platform to release a film other than theatres and if it is beneficial, then why do we disagree with that platform ? I reckon all are benefited with this revolution. But this change is infuriating some people. Remember the protest of taxi drivers when online taxis uber and ola had begun their service here. And the clamourings of hotel owners when swiggy and zomato started online food delivery service. But gradually they could evolve with the changes. In this way, the wrath of people against online streaming will have an end once they understand and adapt with this revolutionary change. There is a foreboding exist that the theatre culture will be outdated if films are released in online streaming platform. Then, remember that nothing had happened in theatres in US and other European countries when netflix started releasing hollywood and other films. This is an evolution and only those who are fit will survive.