Remember the Excitement When Going to the Movies Meant Something? Why Bollywood is failing?
Remember the time when we used to feel so excited before going to the theatre to watch a three-hour-long movie? Watching a movie in a cinema hall used to be part of birthday celebrations, a date, or a way to spend a nice holiday. Fridays used to be filled with excitement as they marked the release of new films.
But what happened now? Why aren’t we excited anymore? Why does watching a movie in theatres feel like a burden and a boring activity? Why is Bollywood falling?
Though the COVID era was a setback for many businesses, most managed to bounce back—but Bollywood never regained its former glory. As people were not allowed to step outside their homes, the OTT culture began to rise, offering a variety of series to watch from the comfort of home, often at no extra charge. Surprisingly, people began to enjoy this new way of entertainment and continued with it even after things returned to normal and movie theatres reopened.
Why there is no craze for specially going to theatres and watching a movie anymore ?
There was a time when theatres had to run multiple shows, and each show used to be houseful. People had to wait for days to get tickets just to watch a movie in theatres. The craze was unmatched.
But things have changed now—the excitement has significantly declined. These days, most people feel irritated about wasting time watching advertisements before the movie even begins. Moreover, the prices of basic snacks like popcorn, soft drinks, and fast food are so high that it often feels like dining at a fancy restaurant would be a better option than spending that money at a movie theatre.
Also, not watching a particular movie in theatres no longer feels like missing out—because nowadays, movies are sold to OTT platforms even before their theatrical release. As a result, audiences prefer watching them at home, saving both time and money.
After a busy schedule, youngsters are now seeking more refreshing experiences such as live concerts, comedy shows, talk shows, and events where they can enjoy wholeheartedly.
Multiplexes are facing huge losses. Maybe Bollywood needs to pay attention.
VFX, action and same storylines are taking over? Where are the masterpieces? Are we missing a good storyline?
Remember the iconic films like Veer-Zaara, Rang de basanti, Zindagi na milegi dobara, 3 Idiots and DDLJ? The stories were unique, impressive, realistic, and engaging. Earlier, movies had a few fight scenes, but nowadays, most films are centered around action with very few realistic elements.
Some OTT releases with action as the main genre initially became massive hits, which misled many Bollywood directors into focusing on films filled with VFX and exaggerated action sequences—like a hero fighting 100 people at once, which is highly unrealistic. While such content was enjoyable at first, the repetition of similar themes has led to boredom among audiences.
Previously, directors explored the world, real-life situations, and societal issues to create meaningful stories. In contrast, many films today are shot in studios with heavy use of VFX. Earlier, the movie budget was primarily invested in developing a strong storyline. But today, a larger share of the budget goes into marketing, advertising, and visual effects—often at the cost of storytelling, which has caused disappointment among viewers.
Audiences are still interested—if directors focus on crafting good, realistic stories. A great example is Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, directed by Karan Johar, which broke stereotypes and featured a fantastic cast with a meaningful narrative.
Rather, People are actually preferring to watch re-releases of older movies they’ve already seen, as there are currently no good new options available.
I hope more films with realistic storylines, valuable perspectives, and decent entertainment make a comeback.
Are the actors doing the right job? Are they justifying their characters? Are they afraid of getting older?
I am not going to bring up the issue of nepotism here. Yes, star kids do get an advantage due to their strong backgrounds over those who try to enter the industry without connections—but this happens in every field, whether it’s law, medicine, or business. Ultimately, it is the audience that judges the performance and decides whether someone is a good actor or not, regardless of nepotism.
The real issue is that many legendary actors, who did brilliant work in the past and received immense appreciation for it, are now struggling to accept their age. Aging is a natural process that everyone must go through, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. One should accept their age gracefully and choose roles accordingly.
Rather than embracing their age, some actors in their mid-50s or even 60s are opting for unnecessary action sequences with no real storyline, just to look cool and continue playing the young heroic lead. This concept may initially create hype among fans, but it eventually leads to disappointment due to the lack of a sensible and meaningful narrative.
Movies like Chak De! India or Taare Zameen Par are examples of meaningful cinema, and we need more such inspiring films.
Are there too many remakes?
Instead of working on fresh stories, many filmmakers are opting to create remakes of movies from Hollywood or Tollywood. Audiences today are smarter, and with the influence of social media, they often already know that a film is a remake of a particular movie. This familiarity tends to reveal the storyline in advance, which reduces curiosity and diminishes the overall interest among viewers. Moreover, remakes often fail to match emotional depth of the original versions and end up failing. Audience expect fresh perspectives and expect industry to invest more in originality and natural content.
Bollywood—its songs, legendary actors, and storylines—is the pride of India.
It needs to remain graceful and uphold its rich legacy. India is known worldwide for its vibrant film industry, and many youngsters still aspire to become successful actors with great passion. Children, youth, and adults continue to look up to actors as role models.
One good story can create a meaningful impact on countless lives. The audience still craves compelling narratives—not just films centered around religion or repetitive action sequels, but stories with emotional depth that inspire and bring about positive change in society.
We truly expect something amazing from Bollywood.
Also read, 3 Trending OTT series review. Watch or skip?
