At the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, celebrated actress Manisha Koirala and filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane engaged in a discussion about the changing dynamics between theatrical releases and streaming platforms. During the session, Koirala announced her plans to write a comedy book focusing on actresses from the 1990s and 2000s as they adapt to Gen Z culture.
Koirala emphasized that the effort required for both big-screen films and web series is the same. “For me as an actor, whether it’s for the big screen or a web series, the work and sincerity needed are identical. The preparation and mindset remain consistent,” she stated. Koirala recently starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s successful Netflix series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.
Motwane, known for directing Jubilee on Prime Video and Sacred Games on Netflix, highlighted the creative advantages of streaming. He remarked, “The wonderful part of streaming is that you’re not confined to the traditional two to two-and-a-half-hour movie format. You can tell a story in various ways, whether as a feature film or a series with multiple episodes.”
He also shared insights from his experience with Sacred Games, which was based on Vikram Chandra’s bestselling novel. Motwane explained that adapting the book into a series was a learning process that involved understanding narrative structures like cliffhangers to engage viewers effectively.
Both Koirala and Motwane agreed that streaming platforms have created more opportunities for diverse storytelling and significant roles for veteran actresses. Koirala noted, “Thanks to OTT platforms and audience support, older actresses are now taking on substantial roles in cinema.”
Motwane added that his experiences in streaming have improved his efficiency in feature filmmaking. He mentioned that while working on Jubilee, they managed to shoot five pages of script per day, completing all ten hour-long episodes in just 90 days.
The filmmaker pointed out that India is still adjusting to the showrunner model prevalent in international series. “We need more time to develop this format here, which will lead to new directors emerging,” he said.
Motwane also discussed how mobile devices have changed viewing habits in India. “India adopted the internet primarily through smartphones rather than broadband. Most people’s first device is their phone, leading to a trend of private viewing,” he explained.
The session was curated by festival director Shekhar Kapur.
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