Bollywood
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri Urged Bollywood Leaders To Stand Up And Fight For The Survival Of Cinemas
Mumbai, September 6, 2021: National award-winning filmmaker, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has penned down a hard-hitting note to the Bollywood leaders, who remain silent as cinemas are closed in Maharashtra. The Tashkent Files director, in an open letter, urged Bollywood leaders to stand up and ensure that government listens and opens up cinemas. ## Theaters in Maharashtra are closed since April 2021, even though, most of the States have allowed theaters to operate. Vivek Agnihotri, in his letter, highlights the unjustified closure of cinema halls in the biggest movie market for Hindi films. He also mentioned that because of the silence of B-towners and the rise of OTTs, the Hindi film industry is going through an existential crisis. ## The filmmaker note down key points, referring to Bollywood artists and filmmakers, as follows - ## 1. You have earned hundreds of crores from your films which released in theaters.## 2. You have earned hundreds of crores because people paid for your movies.## 3. You are leader because you earned hundreds of crore and have a clout, experience, money and power.## 4. You can not just keep the perks of being a leader/star and keep quiet when there is a crisis. You know Bollywood is also the soft power of India.## 5. You know that Bollywood going through an existential crisis for three reasons: a] Locked theaters b] OTTs, and c] Public anger towards you.## 6. Imagine you are a big corporation and your brand faces the same situation. Will you go in hiding and wait for the situation to improve or you will firefight it?## 7. You haven't done anything except for keeping quiet and let destiny take its course. The general assumption in the industry is that people are dumb and they will again fall at the feet of the stars or at the box office as soon as movies release again. You are absolutely wrong and myopic.## 8. This is the real test of your creative integrity. The world is watching whether you are going to fight to save cinema or you'll do it only when your film is stuck.## 9, I hope you realize that because of your inaction, almost all Indian content is slowly being owned by just 3-4 American corporations. Soon, there will be no Indian content. This is how East India Company took over India. I am not saying this will happen but 'something like this is already happening. Just think why you are responsible for this.## 10. You want to be treated like leaders in happy times, celebration times, success times. Now when there is a crisis, you got to stand up and give confidence to millions of workers that you'll lead the fight for their livelihood.## 11. Please speak up and ensure that Government listen and #OpenUpCinemas.## To, Dear Bollywood leaders: …Because extraordinary times need extraordinary vision, courage and leadership…#OpenUpCinemas pic.twitter.com/xDf9lhKNwy— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) September 6, 2021 ## Stay tuned...
