MUMBAI, OCT 29 : Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has said that the growing consumption of digital content has made people increasingly isolated, while watching films in theatres continues to offer a unique collective experience that brings audiences together emotionally.
Speaking on the opening day of a film festival in Mumbai, Ali said viewing habits had changed significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with people consuming substantially more content through reels, stories and other digital formats.
“Today, we’re watching ten times more content in different forms, be it reels, stories, etc. But these things are often watched in isolation, either on a phone or on some other device, when you’re alone,” he said.
Ali highlighted the importance of watching films on the big screen, explaining that sharing emotions and reactions with fellow audience members creates a sense of connection.
He said the experience of feeling the same emotions as people sitting around you was special, adding that human beings were not meant to live in isolation.
“The disadvantage of the digital world is that it isolates people, whereas the advantage of theatre is that it gives people a collective experience,” the filmmaker observed.
Ali said he hoped audiences would continue to visit theatres and experience films together. Referring to his latest film, Main Vaapas Aaunga, he expressed hope that more films would find success on the big screen.
Direct Audience Interaction Is Important
Reflecting on the response to Main Vaapas Aaunga, Ali said receiving both critical appreciation and commercial success was a matter of good fortune.
He also stressed the need for filmmakers and artists to interact directly with audiences to understand their expectations and improve their work.
According to Ali, regular engagement with viewers helps creators understand what they can do differently in their respective fields. Without such interaction, filmmakers risk making creative decisions without knowing how audiences might respond.
He described direct communication between artists and audiences as an important lesson from the experience of his recent film.
Imtiaz Ali Working On New Story
Asked about his next project, Ali said he was currently writing a story but had not yet decided on the cast.
He indicated that the film’s genre and direction were still undecided, leaving open the possibility of a contemporary story or a romance-drama.
Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga is a star-crossed romance set against the backdrop of the Partition, narrated through the perspective of the present generation.
His latest remarks come amid continuing changes in viewing habits, as digital platforms offer audiences more content at home while the film industry continues to underline the importance of theatrical releases and shared cinematic experiences.
