“If a film is brilliant and has released on OTT first, why can’t it be released in theatres later on for a larger audience?” – Jyotika

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

May 27, 2020 - 8:00 AM IST

The Coronavirus-induced lockdown has led to panic all over the world and the emergence of ‘new normal’. One of the aspects of it is that films, meant for theatres, are releasing directly online. One of the first such films that will come out on an OTT platform is the Tamil courtroom drama Ponmagal Vandhal. The film stars Jyotika and she’s also one of the producers along with her actor hubby Suriya. It’s all set to release on Amazon Prime on May 29 and this decision led to a sharp reaction from the exhibitors down South. The Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association have threatened to ban films produced by or featuring Suriya.

“If a film is brilliant and has released on OTT first, why can’t it be released in theatres later on for a larger audience?” – Jyotika

Talking to a small group of select journalists yesterday, Jyotika explained why they decided to take the OTT bait. She says, “It’s a wonderful platform, definitely because of the Covid-19 situation. It’s definitely a celebration when the film releases in theatres. We’d like audience to clap and applaud. We write scenes for that! But I guess, in these times, it is only fair that producers get that opportunity to let small films out. Because even after we overcome the pandemic, it’ll only be the big films that will be lined up for release. So I don’t see a film, for example, like Ponmagal Vadhal releasing in theatres in the next 1 ½ years. Because by the law of how the theatres work, the smaller films get a chance much later. Hence, keeping in mind the circumstances – the fact that ours is a small, women-centric film and the Covid-19 situation, I feel it’s a fabulous platform given to us at the right time. I think the small budget films really deserve it.”

While there are far too many multiplexes as compared to single screens up North, the situation is vice-versa down South. Hence, for a film like Ponmagal Vadhal, an online release works better. Jyotika explains, “A women-centric film doesn’t have a big reach among the mass audience considering that we don’t have too many multiplexes here. So, OTT definitely seems to be a great option for such a film. Right now, we are releasing in 200 countries and territories. So it’s a great platform and very much needed for content, women-oriented films. And it’s a very confusing time since one can’t really decide whether a particular film should go to theatre first and not OTT or vice versa. And I ask, if a film is brilliant and has released on OTT first, why can’t it be released in theatres later on for a larger audience?”

As for allegations that jumping directly to OTT can affect the exhibition sector, Jyotika reasons, “I do not think anybody is going to get affected. All of them – producers, exhibitors and OTT – are on the same side. So whenever the theatres open up, they’ll never go empty. They’ll have their set of audiences. And with OTT, we are just increasing markets and making the business better.”

The response to the Ponmagal Vadhal’s trailer has been phenomenal and Jyotika feels that even bigger films should try their luck here. She exults, “We are all trying and testing in this situation. We never expected to hit 10 million views in 2 days for the trailer of a film like Ponmangal Vadhal. This wouldn’t ideally have happened if we were coming to the theatres. So it’s like our first-time exam wherein we are trying to understand how it works. But definitely, big films can come on this platform too!”

Jyotika in the film plays a lawyer and when asked about the biggest challenge, she tells, “Though I am based in Chennai for 12 years, Tamil is still not my mother tongue. So to mouth continuous lengthy dialogues was a challenge. I did take my script two months ago and mugged the dialogues. We also went for lengthy shots.”

The trailer of Ponmagal Vadhal makes for a great watch also because it’s set in Ooty. It’s a place that was once a go-to-destination for our Bollywood filmmakers. Jyotika reveals, “Ooty is always beautiful. Any hill station in India – whether in North or South – have their own feel. However, I recently read a very funny comment on social media which said that why do you shoot only thrillers, crime and horror films in such a beautiful place like Ooty? That person commented that he feels scared to visit Ooty now! Having said that, the place is still untouched. And we shot there at a time when it received the highest recorded rainfall in the last 60-70 years. So it was at its maximum beauty.” She also however adds, “Our DOP Ramji is also responsible for the beauty!”

When asked when if the film, based on child rape, is based on or inspired from a true incident, she remarks, “It is a story that’s happening every single day in India. You can call it a ‘true story’ in that sense. Since two years, I have been reading about child rape, abduction and much more gory stuff every single day. So when this story came my way, I decided to go for it.”

Jyotika also stresses on the fact that women are finally being offered stronger parts, “There has been a huge change in the last 5-7 years. There have been a lot of women-centric films, 90% of them done well. As compared to male-centric films where it’s 50-50! So women-centric films mostly come up with good content and we work thrice as much as harder always to get it right because we have to convince the audience without the dancing, action etc and package our film accordingly. However, the one thing that is not picking up is that as the women are ageing, we don’t have roles for 35+ heroines. Films are still made for younger ones. So I think that’ll be very path breaking to see, all over India, if more films are on women above 35 or 40 or 50 years of age, like it’s done in Hollywood.”

Jyotika married in 2006 and is now a mother of two kids – Diya and Dev. She took a break of many years from acting after which she made a comeback in 2015. Jyotika says, “Today I am a mother. I have put aside my priorities and I look at what my kids like. So there’s a lot of change in a woman after marriage and having kids. Anything I take up, I want my kids to see it. I want them to feel proud of my work. I don’t want that somebody should embarrass them by remarking that ‘I saw your mother (in an objectionable film)’. For me, family comes first and hence, I am emotionally invested in each and every character that I do. I am answerable to my kids. I just don’t want to advise them; I’d rather be an example to them!”

Jyotika started her acting career with a Bollywood film. Will she like to make a comeback in Bollywood as well? She tells, “I just did one film in Hindi, which was also my debut – Doli Saja Ke Rakhna. But the rule in Bollywood is that if the first film doesn’t run, then you don’t really get a lot of work! Then I got an offer down South thanks to my sister Nagma. So I just drifted to the South and I started getting work here. But if a nice offer from Bollywood comes my way, I’d love to come home and speak Hindi!”