It is surely undeniable that OTTs cannot match the overall cinematic experience like theatres. And that’s the very reason there is no doubt about theatres gaining their past glory soon enough now, as the government has allowed them to re-open.
OTTs have been praised for their democratic nature and the level playing field they provide to actors and filmmakers alike. What matters for content to become successful on streaming services is a good script and stellar performances supporting and strengthening it further.
So, is it possible for OTTs to produce superstars like big screen cinema has produced for decades?
Now that’s quite difficult for OTTs due to the very fact of them being egalitarian in nature. Though the contents on streaming services have led to the discovery of some pretty outstanding talents, we can hardly list any of them as a superstar. One reason for this being the lack of magnanimity on OTTs.
Tentpole films which require hefty budgets and a higher level of technicality do not get the justice they deserve on small screens as the audience misses out on many details that catches one’s attention only on big screens. And it is these state-of-the-art films that, more than often, create charismatic superstars.
Another reason why it is difficult for OTTs to make heroes out of actors is the limited reach of these platforms across the country. The OTTs have definitely registered rapid growth in recent past but they are yet to expand their base in the mid level and penetrate to the root level of our Indian society. So the question of a “mass hero” gets out of the window when there is actually no “mass” involved.
Cinema is not just about the art but also the artist. Well, there are artists and then there are legendary artists, but without the right platform even a legendary one would remain reduced to just an artist. Not being able to harness the true potential of a star is nothing but a huge public loss. And that’s exactly what theatres do – take a star in the making to the highest echelons of success.
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