THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Ajit John
Making films can be a taxing but enriching experience. The pleasure of watching viewers in a theatre watching one’s creation can be a very satisfying one. Or a depressing one. In Goa, the first movie, Mogacho Anvddo , was released on April 24, 1950. After that there were several more over the years. Konkani film Paltadcho Manis has been included in the world's best films of 2009 list. There is much to be proud of but the industry is in the dog house. The number of people watching Konkani films has reduced over the years and it is a battle for film producers to get the right time slot in the theatres. All in all, producers are not making money in general except for the odd exception. This calls for something new. Digital Technology has evolved dramatically and new platforms have emerged that have caught the fancy of viewers all over the world, and this holds true for Goa too.
These platforms like Amazon and Netflix are very popular and like them, there are several Indian platforms. Many of which have caught the fancy of the audience. This begs the question. Have Konkani filmmakers now prepared to move totally onto these platforms? Of course, it could mean they would have to be prepared to take a hard look at their scripts and perhaps convert them to the popular nine-episode format.
Darshan Lolienkar, Director and lyricist said the problem with the industry was pretty deep. He said “We do not get any help from the state government. To make matters worse not many people watch our movies. When we go to the theatres, they want round Rs. 7000-8000 per show which is expensive for us. Now, this is the age of digital media. I have decided to go on to the OTT platforms. Now I have made a film but not episodes-based content. I have noticed the younger generation is very active on social media. I intend to make a film and also go on this platform. You can see several Hindi, Telegu, Tamil and Malayalam films first released in the theatres and migrating to these platforms. My web series will be in Hindi and will be called “Thappad” and it will be on an OTT platform. I have planned it all, I will make a film in Konkani and show it in theatres and the sell it to channels like ZEE Marathi or something similar and at least recover then money for the producers. If the content is good, there will be viewers”. He went onto reveal that his movie Mariola-The Girl Child would be coming on Tapan Acharya’s OTT platform soon.Rajesh Pednekar who is a national award winner felt it would all depend on the story. He conceded that OTT platforms were getting very popular and many interesting web series were now being showcased on them. Rajesh said “I want to make a web series in Goa with all its unique flavour but will it get successful on the platform is a very big question. It all depends on how popular these platforms are and that will depend on the people behind it. How much are they willing to invest in to create a brand. Word of mouth which is big in Goa has its limitations. With the money that is invested, we need to have lakhs of people interested in watching it”. The virus he said had put paid to the theatre industry which would affect Konkanu filmmakers a lot. He said “Let’s look at the ESG which has around 232 seats, they would charge us around Rs. 10,000 now with social distancing the numbers in these auditoriums will reduce dramatically. Then the cost of hiring it should also reduce to half. But will that happen? I will keep my options open. Let’s see how it pans out”.
Madhav Gad who produced Home Sweet Home 2 said writing for a movie and a web series was a very different experience. He said “At present everything is just down. Trends are interesting though, movies like Gulabo Sitabo are going straight to these platforms. Akshay Kumar’s next movie Lakshmi Bomb has gone onto one of these platforms. I believe like elsewhere, in Goa it will all depend on the producer because he is the money man. If the budget is right then yes, a nine-episode web-series would be fantastic. It will all depend on the market situation. Right now, there is no option but to go the OTT way for us but six or eight months later maybe it will change”. Rajendra Tilak the man behind hits like Aleesha and O Maria said he would not go on to the new platform just because it was popular right now. He said “There have always been problems. Earlier when I made Aleesha, the popular Hindi film Dhoom was also released. The Konkani Film members who were invited to watch my movie expressed their interest in watching Dhoom because they felt it would go in ten days were as my movie would be still around. Now of course things are changing. But some of the old problems still remain. We are struggling to get content for one film, how are we going to make web series. Lets see how all this works out”. Perhaps the film producer with the most interesting experience is Milroy Goes whose film Welcome Millions is being shown on Amazon Prime in Europe and America after being dubbed in the local language. It is expected to be available for viewership in India shortly. Made in three languages and shot in Goa, Punjab, and the UK, the movie was meant to have its premiere at the IFFI 2019 but was turned down because it had been one of two Indian film selected by the Oscar committee. Milroy said “It threw our plans out of gear and then the theatres in Goa wanted 60% of all earning from each show. If the show was houseful, we would make money but it was too much of a gamble. During my visit to Los Angeles, I had met with various people from Netflix and Amazon Prime, and thankfully, in the nick of time Amazon Prime came in. I am looking at these platforms seriously and even though Konkani was one of the languages used extensively in the movie it was aimed at the international audience. I think that is the way to go”. Perhaps in that thought lies the future of the Goan film industry. The industry has too much at stake to just cave in and give up.
