It's time to introspect. We need to move ahead in life. We need to begin the new year with renewed enthusiasm. We need to put the bad memories [financial losses] behind us. At the same time, we need to learn from the mistakes we committed in the past so that we don't repeat them in the new year.
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I would like to remember 2010 for two reasons. One, the production of low cost films saw a big jump this year. Even established names/reputed banners couldn't resist the temptation of making films with newcomers/lesser known names. Two, while on one hand masala entertainers like DABANGG and GOLMAAL 3 were lapped up, the audience was receptive to non-masala films as well. Newer stories were being told not just by the new directors on the block, but also by A-listers.
But there were two solid reasons why most films sank without a trace. One, those films gave far more importance to the stars than the written material. Two, the wrong economics. The fee charged by actors and directors hit the roof this year. Irrespective of how their films fared at the box-office, most of them made pots of money in the process. Nothing wrong with that, except that the producers/investors/studios bore the brunt of a heavy price tag.
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The industry could breathe easy in 2010 because the prices of satellite right shot up briskly and the studios/right holders, who had acquired the films for huge prices, could recover a chunk of their investment due to this reason. But what if the prices had plummeted? In any case, the television channels have become smart these days and the price of films is correlated with the theatrical business of the film, which means that the party is over, at least for films that tank at the box-office.
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Inspired by the success of some low cost films, almost every producer is attempting to make a film with newcomer actors or directors or lesser known names. But are you aware, most low cost films, even the ones that were critically acclaimed, have not recovered the costs? It's very, very difficult to sell a low cost film and much more difficult to give it the right release. Let's hope things improve in 2011.
