It has been seven years since the first multiplex opened its gates to film lovers in Bhubaneswar. Today, there are as many as three multiplexes and one cine complex in Bhubaneswar, while Cuttack boasts a multiplex and cine complex each.
Gone are the days when one had to choose between a noon, evening or night show at single screen theatres. Multiple show timings have made life easier for film connoisseurs, who can now choose to watch films at a time that suits their schedule. The growth of multiplexes has also been a boon for film distributors who can now release the movies in more theatres. This, interestingly, has also seen a growth in demand for Hollywood films.
Hindi and Odia films have always had wide appeal in the state, but Hollywood films at single screens were a rarity till some time back. A Hollywood film would release in Odisha only if it boasted a big star cast or had already generated a lot of hype in the West and other parts of the country. But now with the growth in multiplexes and cine complexes, more Hollywood films are releasing in Bhubaneswar and other cities.
Oscar-nominated films have a different kind of appeal and demand, which further goes up if the film wins the coveted award. With the Academy Awards scheduled to be held February 25 (India date), film lovers will be glued to their television sets from 6 am to get a glimpse of their favourite stars walking away with the golden statuette. But, unfortunately, film buffs in Odisha will be deprived of watching many of those films on the big screen. For, Oscar-nominated films rarely make it to the theatres in the state.
At present, three Hollywood films — Alita: Battle Angel, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and Mary Queen of Scots — are being screened in Bhubaneswar. Of these, Mary Queen of Scots has won two Oscar nominations. Unfortunately, the film has only one show, that too at 10.20 pm.
Some of the other Oscar-nominated movies too have not made it yet to the theatres in Odisha. These include films such as The Favourite and Vice, that are leading the Oscar race with 10 and eight nominations, respectively.
“Most Oscar nominated movies don’t release in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. There are only a few big films that are screened in theatres. I usually try to get hold of a DVD if I want to watch an Oscar-nominated film,” says Binod Mohapatra, a businessman and film buff from Cuttack.
It isn’t that there aren’t takers for Hollywood films, especially Oscar-nominated ones, in Odisha. Last year, Black Panther, which raked in more than $1.3 billion worldwide to emerge as the third-highest grossing film ever, was nominated in five categories including Best Picture. The film released in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and ran to full houses. Similarly, Incredibles 2 and Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse, which are in the race for Best Animated Feature Film along with multiple other nominations, also had a successful run in Odisha.
However, Binod says that it is some of the big movies, particularly franchise films, which make it to city theatres. “I like watching films from all genres but most Oscar films that release here are the ones that have already been successful in the West,” he says.
Understandably, franchise films have an easy connect with audiences. However, the more offbeat and arthouse films like Green Book, Vice, The Favourite, BlacKkKlansman, At Eternity’s Gate and Cold War, which are all in the Oscar race with multiple nominations in various categories failed to make it to the screens here.
“We screen English, Hindi as well as Odia films. However, both the films and the show timings are decided by our Mumbai office. We don’t have any control over bringing a particular film or shuffling show timings,” says an official at Cinepolis, Esplanade Mall in Bhubaneswar.
Apart from big franchises, a few Oscar-nominated films like Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is Born did release in Odisha and did brisk business. But, the number of shows were either too few or the show timings too inconvenient. Pragyan Pattnaik, an IT professional from Bhubaneswar, says, “Watching movies in theatres is a different kind of experience altogether. I love watching English films but rarely do Oscar-nominated films hit the screens in Bhubaneswar. And even if they do, they either have early morning or late-night shows.”
Pragyan adds that one reason for the late-night shows is possibly the “A” certification of some of the films. “It may be that when films come with an A-certificate, many feel that it isn’t appropriate for children, hence the late-night timings,” he says.
Multiplexes and cine complexes, however, say that Oscar-nominated films are released from time to time, and films are distributed according to the preference of the audiences across India. “All movies which release in the Indian subcontinent are available at Inox and distributed accordingly. Quite a few big Oscar-nominated films have released in Bhubaneswar,” says an Inox spokesperson based in the regional head office in Kolkata.
However, Inox could not cite any particular reason for films like Vice and Green Book not making it to theatres here. Many film lovers cite language barrier as one of the reasons for theatres preferring to screen Hindi and Odia films. “Although, I have the option of watching movies on television or mobile, I prefer to go to theatres. But at times I find it difficult to understand the American accent. So, I prefer watching the Hindi dubbed version, but they rarely release here,” says Binod, who last watched the dubbed version of Avatar, which won three Oscars.
Soumya Ranjan Mohanty, an IT professional from Kendrapara, expresses similar views. “There are many Oscar-nominated films which are in a foreign language. Such films need to be dubbed or have subtitles. But foreign-language Oscar films don’t release here, and the others which are in English, neither have dubbed versions nor do they have subtitles. Hence, I watch those films either on a mobile app, where dubbed versions are also available, or buy DVDs.”
Thus, filmgoers often are left with no choice but to rely on DVDs. However, given that DVDs do not release immediately after a film’s theatrical release, most rely on pirated versions. A DVD seller from Bhubaneswar, on condition of anonymity, says, “I have been in this business for more than 20 years. Earlier, I used to give these DVDs on rent but now people just come and ask for the films. We take a day and download it for them along with subtitles.”
An industry insider, who did not want to be named, says that Oscar-nominated films first release in the metros and a few other big cities and then, if they have a successful run, reach smaller cities. He says, “All big Hollywood films have a simultaneous release in all cities, although the number of shows is far less here compared to the metros. But other critically acclaimed films, many of which go on to get nominated or win the Oscars, make it to smaller cities only if they do successful business in the metros.”
While economics may be the underlying reason for critically appreciated films not being screened, at the end of the day, it is a loss primarily for those who love watching good arthouse movies.
SOYONG, OP