Prakash Jha’s Bold Call: Revamp Multiplexes and OTTs to Save Indie Cinema!

Mumbai, Dec 22 (LatestNewsX) As he gears up for the London Film Festival, acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Jha is sounding the alarm on India’s indie cinema scene, offering sharp insights on how to turn things around.

Chatting with IANS amid promotions for the festival, Jha delved into the dual-edged sword of multiplexes. “You have to see it from both sides,” he explained. “Multiplexes provide the essential exhibition space, but the real glitch lies in their release model. Big-budget blockbusters worth INR 500 crore or low-key indies at INR 5 crore face identical distribution hurdles and costs. That’s where pragmatic reforms are urgently needed.” As a multiplex owner himself, Jha actively urges his peers: “We must slot independent films into prime-time shows at reduced rates.”

Jha reminisced about the pre-multiplex era, when niche distributors eagerly picked up indie projects. “Back then, they handled promotion at manageable levels,” he noted. “But today, with no room for local ads anymore—everything’s gone national and global—those costs have skyrocketed.”

Driving home his point, Jha highlighted escalating expenses like digital content preparation. “We need smart, realistic strategies,” he stressed. “Independent cinema sparks vital conversations with society—it’s crucial. Filmmakers should pour energy into scripts and stories we truly believe in, but only if distribution pathways exist to reach audiences.”

He didn’t spare streaming giants either: “Even OTT platforms prioritize the same old mindless commercial fare. They should create dedicated spaces for indie gems or have major services negotiate deals to pick them up, even at lower prices. Independent creators need fair access to screens—big or digital—to break even and fund their next passion project.”

Source: IANS