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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Lights, camera, crisis? Hindi films struggle despite 27% box office jump
Film producers and distributors say the 27 per cent jump in all-India box-office earnings during the first five months of 2025 hides a much grimmer reality. Despite total receipts climbing to ₹4,812 crore from ₹3,791 crore a year earlier, industry insiders describe an 'existential' crisis and an atmosphere of 'nervousness' across the sector, The Economic Times reported. 'Are we looking at numbers or real growth? Last year was an election year. So, it seems there is growth in collection. There is a huge difference between film business in multiplexes and the B-class and C-class centres,' said Yusuf Shaikh, CEO and founder of Janta Cinema, quoted by The Economic Times. Lack of mass entertainers Shaikh mentions the theatres' core audience — the masses — now struggle to find 'credible mass entertainers' on screen. A veteran distributor said that the ritual of weekly movie-going has faded. He said that the audience, for whom watching films in theatres was a ritual, is missing. This has impacted the average opening and collection of Hindi films. Data from Ormax Media underscore the shift. Non-Hindi titles — ranging from English to various regional languages — accounted for 63 per cent of nationwide box-office takings between January and May, only slightly lower than the 67 per cent share logged a year earlier. Hindi films improved their share to 37 per cent, buoyed by hits such as Chhaava and Raid 2, The Economic Times report mentioned. Dependence on big-budget releases Yet a handful of successes cannot reverse broader structural issues, warns media-ech consultant Prashen Kayla. 'One or two hits do not promise change in the business situation. The Hindi film industry is disproportionately dependent on big-budget films. Today, the industry needs more successful mid-budget films,' he said, as quoted by the report. Aamir Khan calls OTT a threat to Hindi cinema Bollywood actor Aamir Khan expressed concern over the growing trend of releasing Hindi films on OTT platforms shortly after their theatrical debut. According to him, this practice undermines the theatrical business model, especially when going to the cinema is increasingly viewed as a premium experience rather than a regular habit. In a conversation with screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar, the issue of Hindi cinema's disconnect with audiences was brought up. Akhtar pointed out, 'The [Hindi] films have lost all connectivity with the audience. Dubbed South Indian films, featuring stars who are unknown to audiences here in North India, are releasing and doing ₹600–700 crore business. Even the few of our films that end up working are also directed by people from the South. What happened to our people?' Khan responded that the challenge is not about regional differences. 'The problem we are facing is something different,' he explained. He criticised the current model of content distribution in the industry: 'Please come and consume our product. If you don't, we'll come and drop it off at your doorstep in eight weeks (through OTT platforms). This is our business model.' OTT platforms reshape viewing habits The rise of OTT platforms has fundamentally altered how audiences consume films. Viewers now prefer the flexibility and affordability of streaming content from the comfort of their homes. Unlike cinemas, OTT allows for on-demand access with features such as pause, rewind, and fast-forward. Subscription costs are also considerably lower than the expenses associated with a theatrical outing. Younger viewers, in particular, have embraced this shift, leading to a decline in habitual theatre-going. While theatres still offer a unique and immersive viewing experience, they have responded by enhancing their offerings — introducing high-end formats like IMAX, luxury recliners, and gourmet concessions — to attract audiences seeking something beyond the standard home setup.
The Wire
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Five Reasons Why Amit Shah's Threat of English Speakers Being 'Ashamed' is Dangerous
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that 'time is not far away for a society where people speaking in English in this country feel ashamed' has sparked a major controversy, after Asian News International and other media houses deleted their media reports and social media updates about the speech. While such statements have appeared before in Indian politics, Shah's position as the de facto 'number two' leader in the ruling BJP and as the union home minister lends extra weight to his words. With the dark shadow of Hindutva's longstanding ideological 'Hindi-Hindu-Hindusthan' slogan, Shah's comment is not just a cultural observation. It carries deep political and global implications, touching on issues of national identity, social mobility, intellectualism and India's international image. Here are five reasons why Shah's statement is significant. Fuels linguistic chauvinism and division India's strength lies in its linguistic diversity. There is no one national language, but 22 of them. By framing English as a foreign imposition and linking it to shame, Shah's statement fans the flames of linguistic chauvinism. This is especially dangerous in a country where language has often been a flashpoint for regional and communal tensions. English often serves as a neutral bridge language in India, especially in higher education, business, and inter-state communication. Non-Hindi speaking states, especially those in the South, East and the Northeast, are likely to see Shah's statement as yet another attempt by the Hindutva regime to impose a narrow, Hindi-centric identity on the entire country, further deepening regional divides and resentment. Colonial legacy as an excuse for furthering Hindutva Shah's statement aligns with the BJP's long-standing agenda of promoting Hindi as being central to the Indian identity. By framing English as a symbol of colonial legacy and 'shame,' he appeals to nationalist sentiments and consolidates the party's core base. His rhetoric helps create the narrative that true patriotism is tied to embracing Indian languages, a euphemism for Hindi in the BJP's view. While there is merit in shedding colonial hangovers, English has evolved into a global lingua franca and a practical tool for international engagement. Shah's framing of English as a source of 'shame' risks using a sensitive issue for ideological and political gains. It can polarise public opinion and distract from the much-needed debate about the quality of public education, as exemplified by the rewriting of textbooks in the BJP ruled states. Threatens India's global competitiveness India's rise as an Information Technology and services powerhouse is built on its large pool of English-speaking talent. This linguistic advantage has been an envy of a country like China. Casting English in a negative light sends a regressive message to the world and risks undermining India's attractiveness to global investors, multinational companies and academic collaborators. It will discourage young Indians from acquiring the very skills that make them globally competitive, damaging the country's future economic prospects. Shah's statement, if seen as official policy of the Hindutva regime, will create concerns about India's openness and modernity, and affect India's image as a cosmopolitan, globally connected nation. Impact on social mobility and education English in India is often seen as a gateway to better education, jobs, and upward mobility. By stigmatising English, Shah's statement risks alienating millions who aspire to learn the language for practical reasons. It could also influence policy decisions on language in education, potentially restricting access to global opportunities for students from non-elite backgrounds. This could deepen social divides between urban and rural populations, and between those with and without access to English medium education. Encourages anti-intellectualism and cultural backwardness Equating English proficiency with cultural shame is a form of anti-intellectualism from Shah. It delegitimises those who are comfortable in English, often the best-educated and most globally connected Indians, and suggests that cosmopolitanism is un-Indian. This closes minds, discourages openness and promotes a parochial, inward-looking mindset at a time when India needs to engage with the world, not retreat from it. To sum up, Shah's statement is not just divisive; it is dangerous. It threatens social mobility, sows linguistic discord, risks India's global standing, fosters anti-intellectualism and distracts from the real challenges facing the country. Shah's ideological rhetoric of 'shame' is out of place, and is actively harmful to the country.
