Stream to Screen: The Return of Cinema

Ah, watching your favourite actors on those enormous screens, along with hundreds of other people rushing towards the theatre, clutching popcorn tubs in their hands. Some with their close-knit group of friends, some with their family, and then there are those who come all alone because it is their love for cinema that matters to them above everything else. Recently, all of this unfolded before our eyes as people engaged in discussions about movies such as "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie." The Barbie frenzy had theatres worldwide glowing pink! Meanwhile, Karan Johar’s "Rocky aur Rani kii Prem Kahani" aimed to radiate Bollywood’s vibrant hues with vibrant colours, a dramatic script, catchy songs with “Jhumkas” dropping on every beat, and everybody bursting into laughter as Jaya Bachchan says her iconic dialogue, "Keh diya na; bas keh diya!"

Yet, amidst all this, do you remember the times when theatres remained shut for about a year and a half, with movies bearing huge losses and our screens becoming smaller? Movies that were made for the theatres were directly sold to OTT platforms. Yes, I’m talking about the COVID times that began around 2020. As time passed, our vision was slowly confined to the small screen for several hours, watching 9 to 10-hour-long series, and multiple movies without breaks. 'Binge-watching' slowly turned into a hobby and distraction. People who used to wait for Fridays with tickets booked in advance had to scroll through their TV screens to find the content they were looking for.

What if "Avengers: Endgame" was made a year later or "Barbie" a year earlier? Would the emotions people shared with a hundred others in the theatre during Tony Stark’s death be the same if it was released on an OTT platform directly, or could we enjoy Barbie just by sitting at home in our dull outfits with no plans of the squad dressing up in pink? No popcorn tubs or large numbers seated in the same room. Not hundreds of people laughing together at the same joke or hooting at the entry of the star that they admire the most. No more dressing up for the movies in your favourite outfits. All of this was replaced by a TV, phone, or laptop in a space ten times smaller with no additional background noise.

Some of us missed that "background noise," for it wasn't noise—it was the magic of watching a superstar's saga in a theatre, a world apart. To experience the joy of watching a movie with the closest ones, we did come up with alternatives such as watch parties or using online platforms where you can watch the same movie with your group. But were these alternatives good enough to completely replace cinema theatres forever?

Slowly, the doors of theatres opened, with the cinema theatres taking care of every safety measure necessary, drawing people out of their homes. There are a few movies that catalysed this process and revived the cinema theatre business, achieving significant success at the box office. Talking about 2022; movies such as "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Rajamouli’s "RRR," "K.G.F: Chapter 2," "Brahmastra Part One: Shiva", "Kantara," and many more were successful enough at creating a sense of excitement among their audience and were successful at the box office. They enthralled us, taking us on a visual journey that only the theatres could provide.

In the post-COVID times, the return of cinema theatres shines as a bright example of our enduring love for stories and togetherness. As we enjoy the renewed magic of these movie places, we're reminded that even though technology changes, the heart of movie excitement stays in theatres. The dimming of lights, the excited hush, the surprised sounds, and the shared laughter all find a special place in the theatre. Though the pandemic temporarily paused these screens, it couldn't quell our strong desire for movies. The revival of cinema theatres is a reminder that our admiration for this craft and our desire to watch it on the big screen will continue to light up these screens for eternity.