36 days, 12 new releases, 6 single screens temporarily shut: What will bring Bengali audiences back to the theatres?

With no big-ticket releases and audience hardly turning up,

theatre owners

in the city had been struggling with a series of challenges ever since the cinema halls reopened in October. Soon after Diwali festivities got over, single-screen owners declared temporary closure after running into losses. And they are not in the mood to reopen either, at least till the time there are a few big releases. We spoke to a few directors, actors, producers and hall owners to find out what could possibly make the Bengali audience watch movies again on the big screen. Here’s what they said…

Actors speak their minds

‘People don’t have the mind-set to think of luxury right now’

It is very difficult to read the public's mind as to why they are not going to theatres. I feel people are still scared of getting infected by coronavirus. Also, they don’t have the mindset to think of luxury right now. They are more concerned about hygiene. But I can assure the audience that theatre owners are taking all the necessary steps to maintain hygiene inside the halls.

—Dev, actor

‘Our audience needs time to get over their fear’

I think people are scared to visit the cinema halls right now and thus, our industry is suffering. I see no ray of hope till a vaccine is out. We have to give our audiences some time and can only appeal to them to return to theatres. I hope we all get over this phase the soon.

—Rituparna Sengupta, actress


Directors root for better content

‘We need extraordinary content to bring audience back to theatres’

Are we giving any good content to our audience? I have my doubts. Also the habit of watching good content on OTT platforms, developed during the lockdown, could be a reason. Now, we need some brilliant content to bring the audience back to theatres. I hope Kakababu does that in Bengal. I also hope Sooryavanshi and 83 do that across country.

—Birsa Dasgupta, filmmaker

‘Our industry needs audience’s support more than ever now’

It’s really disheartening to see single plexes temporarily shutting down after Diwali because of the lack of the audience. At the same time, the Bhojpuri industry went houseful during Diwali. “It is understood that we didn't have any big-ticket releases during Durga Puja, but still the footfall was shocking. People have started going to pubs and restaurants. Then why are they not watching films in a theatre I wonder. Our industry needs support more than ever now. What we need is a big-ticket release and see how it goes.

—Subhrajit Mitra, filmmaker



Theatre owners await big releases

‘Incurred a huge loss with only 2-3 people walking in every day’

I had no choice but to keep our theatre closed till there is a regular flow of big releases. Also, there is hardly any audience. Last month, we incurred a huge loss with only two to three people walking in every day. I can understand their fear of sitting in a closed air-conditioned environment for three hours, but strangely they are bold enough to walk into a mall or a restaurant. So, are we failing to provide them with good content?

— Satadeep Saha, Ajanta Cinema Hall


‘It could be the OTT craze that’s keeping the audience busy’

I keep seeing people visiting malls, restaurants, having house parties and even eating at fast food joints. But when it comes to watching a film at cinema halls, they are hesitant. I fail to understand if that is due to the recent OTT craze or people are just being fussy about entering a closed space. Maybe the audience is waiting for a spectacular big release to watch in theatres.

—Sourav Bose, Basusree Cinemas

Producers want to wait and watch

‘We are not offering enough films that can excite people’

We, as an industry, are not offering enough films that can excite people to come back to theatres. I am sure these theatres will reopen with the release of big films. I am hopeful, we will see a change in scenario soon and theatres will start operating again.

—Mahendra Soni, producer

‘The audience is relying more on OTT platforms’

Let’s face it, people are still scared of entering a movie hall amid the pandemic. I also have some friends from the food and beverage industry, who were complaining about running into losses. And this will go on till the vaccine is introduced. As of now, the audience is relying on OTT platforms. No producer is willing to release a film (forget big-budget movies) in theatres, as there will hardly be any profit. So, these theatres have no option but to close temporarily.

—Nispal Singh, producer


The fun of sitting together with friends is missing: Audience

‘The Covid situation has changed everything for us’

Earlier, my husband and I used to watch every movie in a theatre, but this Covid situation has changed everything for us. I am a big fan of Abir Chatterjee, but I am still in two minds before going to a theatre to watch his latest release. I am not sure how safe that will be. However, it is sad to see some single plexes closing down temporarily till any big-ticket Bollywood film releases.

—Misha Deb, an avid movie buff


‘I felt a bit uncomfortable sitting in an enclosed space’

During Durga Puja, I went to a south Kolkata multiplex to watch Dracula Sir with three of my friends. To my utter surprise, I could hardly find other audience besides us. The theatre was properly sanitised, but the fun of sitting together with your friends, enjoying a tub of popcorn, was missing. Also, I felt a bit uncomfortable sitting in an enclosed space with the air-condition on for almost three hours.

—Pritam Banerjee, audience