Duologue with Barun Das S3: OTT vs Cinemas – Das and Kiran Rao in conversation

New Delhi: Let’s start this piece in reverse order by stating at the very onset — this house believes that both streaming services and theatres can and must co-exist. Barun Das puts his sharp idea in motion as he accuses Bollywood of having become complacent. He asks his guest, acclaimed filmmaker Kiran Rao, is “B-town on a slight decent?” Supporting his this charge, Das gives us apt examples of what used to define cinema of the yore. Reminiscing of the ‘golden eras’ in Hindi cinematic history, right from the cult classics of Guru Dutt to the movies made during the ‘Angry Young Man..’ phase or even the times of Yash and Karan Johar…, Barun Das asks firmly, what is Bollywood’s raison d’être today?

“At this particular time, a ballpark in my mind is that if you don’t have at least two cult films then you are not creating enough impact out of it. As an insider, tell us if Bollywood is in some sort of a disarray, or are they in a phase where they are getting their act together,” he puts out a challenge in the premier episode of the hugely popular and thought-provoking ‘Duologue With Barun Das Season 3.’

The series of insightful dialogues between Barun Das, and an eclectic mix of celebrities from all walks of life, kicked off yesterday, February 22, on News9 and News9Plus. The premier episode saw a very purposeful conversation take place between Das and his guest for the day — Bollywood’s Kiran Rao, known to be a visionary filmmaker with an artistic approach to storytelling. Her passion for pushing creative boundaries continues to redefine Indian filmmaking.

She and Das made many compelling arguments throughout the show.

Is Bollywood ‘Laapataa’ in the OTT milieu?

If Barun Das set the ball rolling for the duologue with his remark on Bollywood’s attitude, Kiran Rao was quick on the uptake too. She began by reflecting on Cinema’s post-pandemic challenges. And we are not talking about the lockdown solely. She explains all that could have contributed towards the box office plunge. “Audiences explored global content — Korean dramas, manga, horror — during lockdowns. They obviously expected our content to also be better. We may have taken our audiences for granted but we can’t afford complacency anymore,” she asserts.

The industry, she notes, must “reorient” to a world where OTT platforms democratise access, and Indian cinema competes globally. Das adds, “Bollywood is no longer just speaking to India; it’s having a conversation with the world. OTT is only going to amplify that further.”

So, is it really such a scare? Rao acknowledges that the streaming services currently do pose a threat to box office revenues, but in the long run she believes co-existence is possible. “People may not have the time to visit cinemas on release day. OTT allows them to watch films at their convenience,” she explains.

Das likens this relationship to “restaurants vs. home kitchens.” Interestingly, he notes that while the cinemas offer experiential storytelling, the OTT provides convenience. Rao agrees but laments rising ticket prices, which have eroded the communal ritual of cinema-going. “Films were meant to be collective experiences, like gathering around a fire,” she tells us, advocating for affordable, “ubiquitous theaters akin to China’s model”.

Quite workable, we say. For those who may not know, China advocates for an optimisation of ticket pricing in their country. In simple parlance, they have a tiered system of movie ticketing primarily based on city tiers, with significantly higher prices in major metropolitan areas compared to smaller towns.

Why co-existence is key

Arguing both sides of the argument, Das and Rao reach a point where they agree that an ‘either or’ situation is not the best case for our industries to thrive. To give us a clearer picture, Das puts two of Kiran Rao’s popular offerings on the line. There’s ‘Dhobi Ghat’, released in 2010 and then there’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ of 2023.  “Your directorial debut, Dhobi Ghat was an off-beat film which made its mark in the festival circuits. But Laapataa… got its due far more than the other. Is it not because the OTT helped the movie reach more number of people,” he quipped.

Rao agreed that OTT has democratised choices. “Yes, ‘Laapataa Ladies’ leveraged digital reach to connect with audiences. OTT has given filmmakers a new lease on life,” she added.

Catch this interesting exchange of ideas (plus views) only on ‘Duologue With Barun Das Season 3’, presented by Radico, with associate partners Tata AIG and Tata Capital. The series is available exclusively on News9 and News9 Plus.

PS: Watch this episode to find out whether Kiran Rao sees herself more in Phool Kumari or Jaya!