Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 19, 2020)

Given the number of films that are going for a direct-to-OTT release owing to the Coronavirus crisis, theatre owners remain at loggerheads with producers. More so because cinemas have still not been given the nod by the government to reopen, which director Ken Ghosh thinks is a wise move.

“I don’t see why the theatre owners are upset. It is like ‘I’m drowning, so you’ve to drown with me’. It’s a very silly argument. We’re in a situation we can’t control. The theatres aren’t open and even if they do, I don’t know if people will feel comfortable to go out,” shares Ghosh.

The filmmaker feels that no matter how much people love movies, “I don’t think they want to risk their lives or of their loved ones by going to a theatre as yet.”

Lending full support to his friends who have decided to release their films on the web, he says he understands their decision was based on the current situation. “None of them said ‘Let’s make a film for digital’. They always wanted to make a big screen film. They had to adapt to the situation. But hopefully, next time this year, people will be back in theatres. Either we’ll have the immunity or the vaccine,” he says.

Ghosh reveals he shot half of his web series before the crisis and now will have to resume the shoot but with a major rejig to the script. “There are no big crowd scenes anymore. We also have to work with a team which is much smaller,” he adds.