Shahid Kapoor, who is gearing up for the release of Deva, weighed in on the OTT vs cinema debate, emphasizing that filmmakers must create compelling content to attract audiences back to theatres.
Shahid Kapoor on OTT vs cinema debate: “It is very important for us to understand that now there are two different platforms and formats”
In a conversation with India Today Digital, during his visit to Delhi for Deva promotions, Shahid stated, “People love Diljit Dosanjh, they can listen to his songs on Spotify, yet they chose to watch him live at the concert. That magic will always be there. Big screen par kisi cheez ko experience karna ek alag magic hota hai. Lekin usko samajhna ki big screen pe aap audience ko kya de sakte ho jo unko vahi same cheez chote screen par milegi par utna maza nahi ayega (Experiencing something on the big screen has its own magic. It is important to note that what you can offer the audience on the big screen, they can see on a smaller screen as well (OTT)—just without the same impact. That I think the audience is learning to discern.”
He added, “The audience now very well knows that they can watch any film at home, and they won’t get anything extra in theatres experientially. However, there are some things that you can best experience in a theatre. I think as content creators, it is very important for us to understand that now there are two different platforms and formats. So, when you see something on OTT, you can see long-form content which can be six, seven, or eight hours because you will watch it at frequent intervals, right? You can sometimes watch half an episode and pause it too. But when you’re watching a movie, it will happen in two halves.”
Shahid Kapoor stressed the need for filmmakers, writers, and actors to craft stories that truly justify the big-screen experience. He pointed out that understanding audience expectations and content consumption patterns is crucial in today’s evolving entertainment landscape. Playing a rowdy cop in Deva, Shahid emphasized that only compelling narratives can draw moviegoers back to theatres.
He further added, “When it comes to OTT, it is important to understand how the content will be consumed in terms of size and format. It is then, one can choose stories and determine the tone, whether it should be loud or subtle, fast-paced or relaxed. All these factors are affected when you’re clear about which audience you’re making it for and where you want them to see it. Then the audience can decide whether they want to consume it or not. But I should be clear as an actor about who I’m making it for and where I want them to see it.”
He concluded, “If I’m strong and my talent is enough, then when you watch that trailer, you should feel, ‘yeh mujhe theatre main dekhni hai’ (I need to see this in the theatre). I should be able to evoke that excitement. Whether you are a filmmaker, writer, or an actor, you should know that your job is to create content that will draw the audience to the theatre, because they always have a choice to sit at home and watch it. That intent should be in me while creating a film.”
Deva stars Shahid Kapoor as a rebellious cop, alongside Pooja Hegde in a key role. Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, the film also features Pavail Gulati and Kubbra Sait. It is set to hit theatres on January 31.
Also Read: Shahid Kapoor: “Mira says tum Aditya jaise 5% bhi nahin ho, then I say shukar hai main Kabir Singh bhi 5% nahin nikla”
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