The rapid release of movies on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms is generating considerable controversy, sparking concerns among industry stakeholders. Many voices in the film fraternity are expressing grievances about its impact on the overall collections of films. This surge in quick OTT releases has become a focal point of discussion, triggering debates about the potential repercussions for traditional cinematic platforms and their financial viability.
Meanwhile, the Theatre Owners’ Association meeting today is causing a stir in the Tamil film industry. They suggest releasing movies on OTT platforms after an 8-week theatrical run. Bharathiraja, President of the Producers’ Association, requests reduced ticket fees for small-budget films.
In the Malayalam industry, such sudden announcements worsen tensions between producers and theatre owners over revenue sharing and release windows. Tamil theaters suffer as recent big releases fail to draw audiences. Films like Captain Miller, Ayalaan, Lal Salaam, and Siren have not set the cash registers ringing. Even after Leo, no film has been liked by the audience to fill theaters.
Releasing films on OTT after 8 weeks wouldn’t improve the theater business. The lack of engaging movies is the issue. Many producers survive because of deals with OTT platforms, helping them recover a bigger chunk of the money spent on making the movie. Since recovering costs from theatrical business is tough due to poor content, they release movies on OTT platforms 3-4 weeks after theaters. This way, they make more money through faster-release OTT deals.
Making good and engaging films is the only solution for the Tamil film industry’s survival. Saying ‘Do not let OTT platforms stream soon’ is easy, but OTTs don’t pay more for late releases. Faster OTT releases mean more money; otherwise, producers will face financial pain. Finding a balance between theatrical and OTT releases is crucial for the industry’s health.
