₹1,000 crore in nearly 18 months when theatres remained shut off and on, new film releases were delayed or sold directly to OTT (over-the-top) streaming platforms, according to two trade experts who declined to be named.
Additionally, unlike after the first lockdown, states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been slower in permitting cinemas to reopen after the second wave as governments remain cautious about spread of infections in public spaces.
Also, no big films like Vijay’s Master, a standout performer last time, are being made available for theatres as several have been sold to streaming platforms. “Even if theatres in Tamil Nadu reopen sometime in July, it will be a soft period of testing and the real action can only begin around the