Problem is that movies now release on OTT in 4 weeks time. Additionally, there is so much OTT exclusive content as well. Hence, people just don't care about going to theaters as much anymore. We have hit/super hit movies still, but the number of them have reduced. We hardly get many average/above average grossers now. People have largely stopped going to movie halls just for the sake of watching movies there now like it used to be before.
I think the impact is more pronounced for our desi movies as the market is very limited and access to capital is not as easy. I’m not sure if it’s already the case but I think in future producers in India will first secure a OTT deal and then go to theatres. Which means the movies will be made with much lower budgets and mostly catering to requirements of the OTT platform!
Watched ‘the diplomat’ on Netflix. A surprisingly well made movie from Bollywood after a long time. John Abraham has given one of his finest, most restrained performances. And to know that this was based on a real-life incident, makes it all the more better !
As a side note, maybe this OTT thing is really harming the box office, especially for Indian movies. I think most of the people these days aren’t bothered to watch these types of non-spectacle movies in theatres, thinking theycan always catch up on OTT within a few weeks of release !