- विज्ञापन -
Mumbai: Kiran Rao, celebrated filmmaker behind works like ‘Laapataa Ladies’ and ‘Dhobhi Ghat’, expressed her belief that Indian OTT platforms still have significant potential for groundbreaking content. Speaking at the 7th Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC) organized by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA), she highlighted how streaming services initially exhibited great promise for immersive storytelling and detailed world-building. Despite some achievements in writing, she feels much remains to be explored.
Rao pointed out that self-censorship has increased, impacting the storytelling freedom that was once more prevalent during the heyday of American television writing. While she acknowledges that storytelling can be more expansive in OTT formats, she noted that many popular Indian OTT offerings often mirror conventional film content, which can hinder the realization of that potential. She mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a successful migration of audiences to OTT, but since then, the distinctive promise of innovative storytelling might not have been fully met, leading to a sense of a “bubble burst.”
Reflecting on the past, she likened OTT’s early potential to a “golden egg,” but now questions how these platforms will evolve. Though she recognizes some excellent writing is currently being produced, she believes there’s still significant work to be done. When prompted about her own plans for OTT projects, Kiran mentioned that while she has a few series ideas, including a mini-series, nothing has been finalized yet. She feels a strong inclination to adapt her series concepts into films instead.
The ISC is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, featuring discussions by esteemed screenwriters and creators like Shoojit Sarkar and Anand Tiwari, who will share insights into their craft and how they navigate the evolving landscape of the industry.
