It is almost amusing to see how old films are being thrown back into theatres these days, marketed as 're releases' and 'nostalgic experiences'. Producers and Theatre owners capitalizing on this sudden wave of nostalgia to squeeze every last rupee from the audience. Let us not pretend that it is some kind of heartfelt tribute to fans but this is purely business. These films which have already completed their theatrical run and made their profits are now being dragged back, not because they deserve another round but simply to squeeze money from fans.
The baffling part is that these re released films which anyone can watch online for free are still drawing crowds to theatres, with fans paying for something already at their fingertips. Many of these films have not aged well, yet the nostalgia factor is used to mask their flaws creating an illusion that keeps the audience coming back. There is nothing new being offered and instead of demanding fresh content, we have fallen into a cycle where we reward mediocrity simply because it is termed nostalgia. All this does is inflate producer's bank accounts while pushing original films aside.
It is not just the audience being exploited, It is also the new smaller films that struggle to get screen time. While the big re released films dominate, fresh original content finds itself buried. Small films that may actually deserve the attention are pushed aside to make room for something that is already been done. Instead of fresh experiences we are stuck replaying the past.
The real question is: Are we that desperate for a trip down memory lane or are we just too lazy to demand better? At what point do we stop playing into the hands of profit hungry producers and theatre owners who do not care about cinema, but only about filling their pockets? If the audience can not even see how they are being robbed, maybe it is time to take a step back and reconsider what we are truly celebrating when we pay to watch what is already sitting on our living room screens.
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