There are hardly any children’s films that get released in movie theatres in a whole year. This seems to have further declined in last couple of years. Has children’s entertainment lost its value?
“No. There is lot of content is there on the OTT platforms. It is right now not visible in cinema theatres because of two years of COVID restrictions. In India, the Children’s Film Society India is also working towards making children’s films. It is there, but the COVID outbreak delayed the production process by two years. As we move ahead, we will see films for children getting released in the theatres as well,” Film director Rajendra Talak said.
“If you go on YouTube, you will all kinds of content for children, including mythologies like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Production of children’s films has been traditionally less. Gradually we will see newer films getting released as entertainment is a basic need for everyone. Platform may change. Instead of cinema theatres, we may see more OTT releases because situation is changing. Anybody investing into this genre will wait and watch where it is financially viable,” Talak said.
Actor and producer Rajesh Pednekar said that nowadays children’s films are happening only regionally, not in mainstream Hindi cinema.
“In regional films, there are topics related to children which are explored by film makers because there are international children film festivals where these films are screened. The problem is the commercial market for children’s films in the country is not very big. Abroad, children films are watched in good numbers. Here the commercialisation is not happening adequately, especially in Hindi language segment,” Pednekar said.
To have regular releases in animation segment, one needs a good script available. “India is the hub for providing technical support to Hollywood animators. But within India, we lack commercialisation. A film has to be commercially viable for making it. Films like Bajarangi Bhaijan can’t be counted as children’s film. Animation films take around four years to make. Plus COVID came. Hence these films got delayed,” he said.
According to him, these films first have to be released in the theatres and then will be subsequently released on OTT platforms, which takes time.
“Directly releasing on OTT platforms won’t fetch them money. Internationally it is happening, in India it is not happening in mainstream Hindi cinema,” he added.
Meenakshi Rajesh, a mother of two children, seemed satisfied with the number of animated films available on the OTT platforms.
“In my opinion, there are enough animated movies that are being made and released in theatres and OTT platforms. I don’t see the numbers being any less than previous years. Content also seems to be strong and thought provoking,” she said.
However another mother, Shobha Rupwate said that the number of children’s films and animation films are far lesser than it should be.
“We only see movies meant for grown-ups which have violence and adult content. Such movies can’t be viewed by children below 15 years. Also there are many so called children films that are released in theatres and OTT platforms which have lot of content that is less suitable for children and more for adolescents. Pure children’s films are surely less, which indicates how grossly neglected is children’s entertainment,” she said.
