Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj believes that meaningful cinema is currently facing a serious struggle. According to him, this challenge existed even before the arrival of OTT platforms and continues today, as filmmakers are often caught between theatrical releases and streaming platforms that insist films be released in cinemas first.
The biggest casualty of this situation, Bhardwaj says, is ‘cinema of the heart and sensibility’. Two decades ago, raising funds for films such as his own Haider, Vikramaditya Motwane’s Udaan and Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur, was much easier. These films found space in theatres and were appreciated by discerning audiences.
That scenario, he says, has changed drastically. “Now you won’t be able to raise money for such films. There is a clear demarcation—‘This is the subject, take it to OTT’, and then OTT platforms say, ‘No, we don’t want it, release it in theatres first, then we will consider it’. In the process, good films are getting beaten,” Bhardwaj said.
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He believes that the industry now needs a ‘revolutionary step’, though it remains uncertain when such a change might occur or whether it will come through a film or a completely new medium.
Bhardwaj described the current theatrical landscape as a strange and challenging phase for filmmakers. Many of his contemporaries and directors he admires have shifted towards streaming platforms to tell their stories.
“We are in a very strange and difficult phase of filmmaking. I think this is a global situation. The kind of films made for theatres has taken a completely new turn,” he said.
Referring to his peers — Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Sriram Raghavan, Vikramaditya Motwane and Imtiaz Ali — Bhardwaj noted that many of them are currently working on OTT platforms. Even when they attempt theatrical releases, success is not guaranteed.
“It’s very sad. I don’t even remember Vikram’s last film in theatres. I am a big fan of Vikram. I am also a huge admirer of Dibakar — they make wonderful cinema,” he added.
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