Entertainment

Manoj Bajpayee: Hope OTT does not go the way theatre owners

The digital is an “unbiased” and “democratic” platform where the audience does not discriminate between big and small banner

Sentinel Digital Desk

The digital is an "unbiased" and "democratic" platform where the audience does not discriminate between big and small banner. But it should remain this way, and not go the way theatre owners and conventional producers have taken cinema to, feels Manoj Bajpayee.

"I have been screaming it from the rooftop for so many years that the box office does not define the quality or merit of cinema, but now small films have started losing their relevance in the industry and for the producer. Because everything which makes 100 crore and above is a good film and small films don't get attention. We have started losing. The whole independent film movement has only gone down in the last few years because we have stopped getting mentorship from the producers, distributors and exhibitors. I just hope the OTT platform keeps that avenue open and does not go the way the theatre owners and conventional producers have gone," Manoj Bajpayee told IANS.

Manoj Bajpayee's latest movie "Bhonsle" has just had an OTT release on Sony LIV. The actor feels OTT is the ideal platform for a small film like this.

"It is fantastic for a film like 'Bhonsle'. A small film like this would not have so many eyeballs and reach (in the theatres) as much as it will get on an OTT platform. So OTT release is a blessing in disguise for 'Bhonsle', even though we had initially planned to release it in the theatres in April. Because of the lockdown, the plan got cancelled," shared the actor. (IANS)