It is difficult to predict about the success of a Hindi movie in 2024. The box office collections have dropped by 30-40 per cent. There are no footfalls at the theatres.
It was with the advent of freedom in 1947 that the Golden Age of Indian cinema began. It lasted for 20 years. In the 1960s, politics became cynical, and there was loss of idealism. During this period, the cinema did not reflect the social concerns and became an escapist fantasy. The volume of film production shot up by 1970s. The official financial channels were reluctant to fund the films. It is during this period that a nexus between the underworld and film industry emerged. The funds came from the profits made out of smuggling. In 1980s and 1990s, small time criminals became money launderers and drug and arms traffickers. These anti-social elements went beyond funding. They entered the film industry as producers. They bought overseas rights for film and music distribution. Along with these anti-social elements, the film industry too experienced the harmful effects. There was assassination of the head of a music company in 1997.
In this millennium, the corporatization that began in the previous century continued. The films have been recognized as industry and nationalized and private financial institutions are now ready to finance them. The shadow of the dark past still continues to trouble film industry, as the biggest superstar receives a death threat from a gangster that is in prison.
In the internet age, there are streaming OTT channels such as NetFlix and Amazon Prime. Movies are released here too.
Though it is an open market now, the audiences are still not drawn in large members to theatres.
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