Anand Pandit believes that the industry shall overcome the current pandemic-related crisis
I believe in the magic of cinema and in the inevitable triumph of the human spirit over adversity. And so as a cinephile and a producer, I continue to believe that the film industry will recover lost ground despite two debilitating waves of COVID-19. That doesn’t mean that I am not cognisant of the ground reality. I read sometime back that the second wave of COVID-19 wave has caused over 2,000 screens to close permanently. These theatres could have been running for decades but could not outlast the pandemic. Last year too, the first wave caused over 1,000-1,500 screens to shut down. So yes, as the maker and admirer of big screen entertainers, I do wonder about the future of single screen theatres and even multiplexes. Lockdowns, spiralling rentals, sanitisation expenses, scanty footfalls and pandemic related anxiety are not good for the box-office but I can see the other side of this story as well.
Looking for a silver lining
It would be insensitive and naive on my part to say that the pandemic has not affected the industry. So many people have lost their livelihoods and loved ones. Exhibitors and daily wage workers are facing constant uncertainty and the future of big screen entertainment seems hazy. I however draw hope and courage from the resilience, adaptability and never-say-die spirit of the industry. This is an industry that has survived the collapse of the studio system, the onset of satellite TV revolution, video piracy and OTT proliferation. Yes, the pandemic is a global crisis but we are already showing signs of working around it.
We have developed sanitisation and safety strategies to pandemic proof our sets and reworked the grammar of film production to face the new normal. Just the fact that we are still ideating, shooting and completing films during this time is miraculous. If we can pull off this feat, we can do anything.
Emergence of new forms of entertainment
Every big crisis alters old ways of thinking and this pandemic has made us rethink how we create content and entertain audiences. Yes, the big screen will always be the mainstay of the magic we associate with cinema but we are realising that entertainment can have many dimensions. This realisation has led the industry to synergise with OTT platforms and creators who are thinking out of the box, telling untold stories and channelling a wealth of under-utilised talent. This has been an eye-opening experience, to be frank and has led me to generate new ideas that would never have struck me before. It has been rewarding to discover that discerning consumers of content belong to not just one demographic but many. This is why now even mainstream producers are exploring anthologies, diverse genres and unusual themes in multiple languages for a global audience. This trend will continue despite the havoc that the second wave has wreaked and we will see more producers taking creative risks. We will also see more big budget films on OTT platforms in case prolonged restrictions make a theatrical release impossible for the time being.
A concerted effort is the need of the hour
Just as the industry came together to mobilise resources to help daily wage workers, to provide oxygen beds and fund vaccination drives, we also must put our heads together to help exhibitors across the country. While addressing the concerns of the multiplex owners, we must not forget the single screen cinemas which provide affordable entertainment to the masses in in remote areas, small towns and rural belts and also generate considerable revenue for the industry. If we want to recover from the second wave, we must start figuring out what can be done to prevent the closure of more theatres. We are currently processing the logistics of pandemic appropriate seating capacities, state specific regulations and also looking at losses worth thousands of crores. The biggest loss however would be that of our morale and optimism so we must find common ground to help each other through this time.
Not forgetting the big picture
Cinema teaches us many lessons including how to look beyond the hardships of today at the possibility of a happy ending. It teaches us to never forget the big picture. So even though this is a tough time, let us not lose faith in our ability to find solutions. Let us also acknowledge that right now, there is a lot more at stake than just the health of our businesses. Our fellow citizens have suffered enormously during the second wave and those of us who can, must help and extend our resources in the service of the less privileged. In a crisis like this, we are all co-travellers who must watch out for each other. It is our humanity that will change the narrative and lead us towards normalcy and recovery. When that happens, like my peers, I too will be back in theatres to watch blockbusters and to laugh, cry, cheer and clap. I would love to see my own production Chehre on the big screen along with many big ticket films that have been waiting for a theatrical release. I sincerely hope that the worst is now firmly behind us and any possible plot twist that we may encounter in the near future, will be a happy one.
(The author is a Bollywood film producer, who’s latest project is the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Chehre.)