“OTT Is for Lazy People!” Sivaji Takes a Dig

Sivaji sparks OTT vs theatres debate

The debate over OTT versus theatres has picked up again, and this time senior actor Sivaji has added fuel to it with some strong comments.

During the promotions of Epic: First Semester, Sivaji called OTT a platform for “lazy people” and argued that the growing habit of watching films and series at home is affecting theatrical footfalls.

He also made a bold claim about #90s-A Middle Class Biopic. Sivaji said that if the series had been released in theatres instead of OTT, it could have easily crossed Rs 100 crore.

There is no way to prove that figure now, but the claim does make the discussion interesting. 90s connected with family audiences through its simple storytelling, nostalgia and middle-class emotions. The question is whether that same response would have translated into a big theatrical run.

Sivaji’s comments have already triggered mixed reactions. Some agree that audiences are slowly losing the habit of visiting theatres, while others point out that expensive tickets and the overall cost of a family outing have made OTT a much easier option.

Interestingly, 90s itself became popular through OTT. That makes Sivaji’s argument even more debatable: can a successful OTT story actually become an even bigger theatrical success?