What India’s cinema operators need most from filmmakers, OTTs & Studios

If every film reaches every screen, why do so few reach every audience?

In a market that’s really going through a lot of flux, a few things stand out to me:

• 1. Audiences crave new stories in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and other regional languages rather than endless sequels or remakes.
  2. Blockbusters pack weekend screens, and weeknights thrive on family dramas, senior shows and women‑led films.
  3. Theatres need eight to twelve weeks of exclusive screening before films move online so they can recover costs and build local buzz.
  4. Local marketing in regional languages and with community influencers drives footfall far better than generic campaigns.
  5. Small single screens and indie chains survive on transparent revenue‑share models and flexible guarantee terms.
  6. Hosting previews, mini‑festivals and director Q&A sessions creates genuine excitement trailers cannot spark.
  7. Affordable pricing through weekday discounts, loyalty passes and combo deals makes cinema visits accessible to more families.
  8. Sharing real‑time ticket‑sale data and basic audience insights lets theatres adjust showtimes and screen counts instantly.
  9. Flexible scheduling of late‑night shows, marathons and pop‑up events helps meet varied local demand.
  10. Films under two hours with clear intermissions keep audiences engaged and honour cultural habits.
  11. Cross‑pollinate OTT and theatrical experiences by giving Netflix, Prime Video and Apple TV+ hits a limited run so viewers can enjoy epic visuals and immersive sound.

Filmmakers and OTT platforms must address these needs to keep India’s big‑screen magic alive.