OTT is getting more and more powerful these days. So much so that regular film producers are naturally having some anxious questions about the power dynamics.
The year 2024 has been a mixed bag for Tamil cinema, with a clear divide between the first and second halves.
While the first half of the year saw fewer hits, the second half has been a bit better in terms of box office success. However, this inconsistency has upset theatre owners in Tamil Nadu, who are struggling with unpredictable profits.
In a recent meeting, the Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association raised several concerns and suggestions to the state government to help in this future of nothingness.
One of the main requests was for a longer gap—around 6 to 8 weeks—between when a movie hits theatres and when it’s released on OTT platforms.
This is exactly what the Hindi film industry has been doing for more than 2 years now. But, the Tamil industry looks too late to adopt this. However, the best way is still Aamir Khan’s way when the movie is sold only after completing the theatrical run.
Theatre owners feel that this would give them more time to make money from ticket sales before the films go online. Another key suggestion was to introduce dynamic ticket pricing. They proposed ticket prices be set at Rs 250 plus taxes for multiplexes, Rs 200 plus taxes for air-conditioned theatres, and Rs 150 plus taxes for non-AC theatres.
The association also called for more shows, including early morning screenings, to increase footfall and revenue.
They’ve been particularly worried about Tamil films being shown in other states before their release in Tamil Nadu, as this impacts the local box office collections. This is kinda weird because how many people watch films like this? Anyways the gap between release outside Tamil Nadu and within Tamil Nadu is so little that it doesn’t really leave any impact. The math is not mathing here.