Aamir Khan caused a stir through his public opinion that movies should delay their OTT platform release until theatrically released films reach a six-month time. In Khan’s view, “If you show it quickly, why would anyone want to go to the movie theatres? The actor’s theatre-focused concerns run against reality as India’s middle-class population continues to thrive in opposition to cinema attendance trends.
Aamir Khan’s Statement: A Logical Explanation:
The actual cost of theatre movie attendance ia a huge financial burden for most families.
Going to a movie used to be a special weekend activity, but today’s financial situation has made it difficult for families to enjoy this experience. Three people in a family must pay between Rs. 900 and Rs. 1,200 in movie ticket prices at various theatre venues across different cities. Among transportation to the theatre, along with parking fees and typical cinema snacks such as popcorn with drinks, the total expense reaches Rs. 3,000 or more for a single outing.
Multiple films come out for release throughout a typical month period. A typical family would need to spend Rs. 6,000 each month to watch both major film releases. At Rs. 72,000 annually, movie expenses alone strain middle-class budgets, in addition to other expenses such as housing payments, education costs, utility bills, and grocery costs.
The identified model is troublesome for the economic capacity of most Indian families.
OTT: The Balancer
Netflix and Amazon Prime, along with Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, have changed how people access entertainment content through their platforms. Over seventy-five per cent of content, alongside hundreds of films and web series, becomes available for a yearly subscription that starts between Rs. 499 and Rs. 1,499. People find OTT platforms affordable when they can access all content whenever they choose and anywhere they prefer.
If the movie turns out to be dull or simply not worth the hype, it is a waste of hard-earned money. Will there be a refund?
Access must not be postponed across six months.
OTT platforms present the only affordable solution for premium entertainment access to families located in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Theatres vs. OTT: Can They Coexist?
Aamir Khan’s worry is understandable. People need to protect the theatres. The solution to consuming theatre content does not require blocking audiences from digital viewing services. In fact, it creates resentment.
The success of multiple recent blockbuster releases demonstrates that only high-quality content drives people into theatres. The success of Jawan, Pathaan, and Animal at the box office occurred despite their inevitable moves to OTT platforms. Moviegoers require compelling storytelling as well as authentic stars and artistic filmmaking elements to watch films rather than artificial barriers.
What Does the Middle Class Need?
The middle-class population requests reasonable movie prices rather than no-cost entertainment. Middle-class families only demand timely releases together with affordable membership packages. The rising financial inflation together with not scaling up income levels should prevent entertainment from being reserved for wealthy people. People from small towns must drive distances to watch movies in a theatre. OTT removes this barrier entirely.
Let’s Be Kind, Be Realistic
A humble request from millions of Indian households arrives for Aamir Khan and his like-minded colleagues:
The movie industry faces widespread spoiler exposure at that time along with rising piracy levels, which causes viewers to lose interest.
The film industry should establish release models which integrate theatre premieres with digital streaming beginning four to six weeks later, which make much more sense.
The film industry will thrive by adopting over-the-top services as parallel platforms because the music industry already accepted streaming platforms.
Through his character and films Aamir Khan has established a reputation for socially engaged productions. I hope he decides to change this claim both to support movie hall owners and to defend the millions of middle-class fans who made him famous.
