In a recent interview, Aamir Khan revealed how OTT platforms and streaming services are cannibalizing and ending any prospects for cinema houses.
Aamir explained that he initially planned to release the film strictly for theaters, as the instant availability of new content on OTT platforms has isolated the audience from the real cinema experience.
With the decline of single-screen theaters and the rise of multiplexes, Aamir Khan argues that watching films has become increasingly expensive for the average viewer, making regular moviegoing less accessible and affordable.
People are increasingly reluctant to pay for the multiplex experience when they know that the same movie will soon be available for streaming at home.
This shift in the way that the audience consumes content has affected a lot of local theaters and their business, ultimately affecting the film’s overall performance as well.
Aamir claims that watching films should be a community experience. He recalled how, after the release of Lagaan, audiences were so emotionally invested that they brought dhols to theaters and celebrated as the film reached its climax, cheering for Kachra.
Today, that experience is missing when you’re alone at home, and OTT is the reason why.
On the other hand, some fans are worried that if Aamir doesn’t plan on selling the digital rights of the film to any platform, how does he plan to recover the cost of the film?
In the same interview, Aamir confidently admitted that the film’s box office numbers are steadily increasing, so he’s still hopeful that the film’s theatrical run will ultimately prove to be a super-hit.
With Sitaare Zameen Par gradually gaining momentum at the box office, it appears that Aamir’s strategies may have been effective. The decision to avoid an OTT release could have encouraged audiences to truly engage with the film in theaters.
