In the post-Covid era, big-budget films like RRR, KGF: Chapter 2, Brahmastra, and Pathaan did extremely well at the box office. But when it came to small-budget, content-driven films, audiences preferred watching them on OTT platforms in the comfort of their homes and not in theaters.
So theories started floating that the audience wanted the big-screen experience that only big-budget, large-scale films with superstars could deliver. So it was believed that it was all over for small and medium-budget films in theaters. But no film industry can survive by making only big-budget films. It is hugely dependent on small and medium-budget films to thrive.
In such a situation, the blockbuster success of Samajavaragamana and Baby is a huge win for the film industry. This kind of cinema is the bread and butter for any film industry, and such films working in theaters is a big boost.
These two films proved that audiences are still ready to come to theaters, irrespective of the budget. The only condition is that the films have to be exciting, compelling, relatable, and entertaining. Another achievement is that Samajavaragamana and Baby turned out to be huge blockbusters in the US market as well, where usually such low-budget and non-starcast movies don’t make big noise.
All the OTT theories have been thrashed to smithereens by the success of these films, and hopefully many more entertaining films will be made within a decent budget and become theatrical successes.
