Anubhav Sinha: ‘I won’t take a film to OTT directly’

Anubhav Sinha. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Some movies are better suited for OTT. That's the popular notion these days, as small and mid-size films are increasingly bypassing the theatrical route. But Anubhav Sinha has no patience for such theories. His last movie, Assi, underperformed at the box office, but has received a positive response since its digital première last month. So, we asked if he was ever suggested by people around to take the courtroom drama directly to a streamer. "Nobody says that to me because now it is established that I will not take a film to OTT directly. It's always for the theatres first," he replied.

Taapsee Pannu in Assi

How does Sinha ensure he keeps making films like Assi or Article 15 (2019) if they don't make a dent at the box office? According to him, a social thriller like Article 15 would be more attractive to a studio than say a thriller like Dus (2005). "You have to budget your films correctly. Dus may seem like an easier film to make, but [in reality] it is Article 15 because it requires less money. It's trying to break new ground. Money respects [unique] voice. If I tell a studio that I want to make Assi, it may [say no] but it will look at [the material] with respect."

April 17
When ‘Assi' had its digital première on Zee5