The box office is set to go on another break but it should be shorter than last time and the results may be better post the break if there is a strong vaccination drive in India. The release calendar of Hindi films is basically postponed until things get better but this was clear when the circuit figures of Godzilla Vs Kong came in and further lockdowns just rubber stamped it. 

A film like Thalaivi which is more for Tamil Nadu may release depending on how conditions remain in that circuit but the Hindi version will not have takers as the covid situation in most states is at a higher level than the peak of last year and on top the film has a South feel when only an action film can get away with that.

This break will bring further causalities with losses and cinema closures but the whole world has suffered with the pandemic and nothing much can be done. The little plus can be that cinemas remain open at some places in the second wave. There will be the same fear as last time of films going to OTT but that fear is temporary as some producers cant wait and have to unlock their money. Also the streaming giants at the moment prefer a film after theatrical release as that does not brinfg the controversies that a premiere or original content brings which has not been censored.

The real fear for cinema is not OTT but covid19. OTT is basically competing with television and in India will remain second to television as local OTT content is unable to cater to the family unlike the West where OTT challenges television. The competition for cinema will remain from other activities where people leave the home for entertainment which was the case before covid19.

Covid 19 is the threat to cinema but with the vaccination drives in US and UK showing results it gives hope that safe viewing in large groups can happen again in time. Europe is seeing a huge third wave but due to a fast vaccination drive in UK the covid cases continue to drop showing vaccinations work. The US has dropped many restrictions like even mask wearing in some areas and despite this there is not a major upturn in cases as over 100 million people are vaccinated.

If in India there is a huge vaccination drive over the next few months we could actually be in a better situation than we would have been if bigger films had started to release later this month. Hopefully the vaccination drive will work fast enabling audiences to return safely and then it will be about the bigger issue which is the content of Hindi cinema.