THE GOAN NETWORK
There was a time when watching a movie was an occasion in itself. People made plans, friends and family came together, tickets were booked, and an evening was set aside for the experience. There was the excitement of reaching the theatre, finding your seats in the dark, the smell of freshly popped popcorn, and the anticipation before the film began. A movie outing was never just about watching a story; it was about everything that came with it.
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Today, entertainment is available at the tip of our fingers. From Netflix and ZEE5 to several other streaming platforms, films and series are only a few taps away. A movie can be watched from the comfort of one's bed or whenever a little free time presents itself. This shift became particularly pronounced during the Covid-19 pandemic, when cinema halls shut down and audiences increasingly turned to OTT platforms. What began as an alternative soon became part of everyday life.
The growing popularity of streaming platforms reflects changing viewing habits, with audiences drawn to the convenience and flexibility they offer. With busy schedules and everyday responsibilities, setting aside a few hours for a movie outing is not always easy. OTT platforms allow viewers to watch at their own pace, pause when necessary, and return to a film or series whenever time permits.
For Riddhi Shirodkar, this flexibility is a major advantage. “I can watch a movie or series whenever I have the time and take breaks in between whenever I need to. I also tend to get impatient while waiting for new episodes, so I prefer watching a series once all the episodes have been released on OTT. That way, I can watch it at my own pace without having to wait every week,” she says. The freedom to choose what to watch and when also means viewers can fit entertainment around their routines, whether it is an episode before bed or a film watched over two sittings.
THE HALL EXPERIENCE
Yet, watching a film at home does not always offer the same sense of escape as stepping into a cinema hall. Phone calls, messages and everyday distractions can pull viewers away from the screen. At a theatre, however, the lights dim and, for a couple of hours, the outside world can wait. Neha Kamat, who prefers watching films in cinema halls, says the experience allows her to disconnect from everything around her. “I love going to the theatres. It makes me forget about the world outside. On OTT, even if the story is interesting, it often gets interrupted by calls or message notifications. In a movie theatre, that is not the case. Once the movie starts on the screen, there is no disturbance,” she says.
BEYOND SCREENS
For many, the appeal also lies in the shared experience: meeting friends, sharing popcorn and reacting to a scene alongside an entire audience. The big screen and immersive sound can make certain films all the more memorable. Rishikesh Naik sees value in both formats. While he appreciates the convenience of OTT platforms, he believes some films are best experienced in a theatre. Films such as Marvel releases and Inception, with their striking visuals and sound, offer an experience that can be difficult to recreate at home.
Ultimately, the choice depends on what viewers seek from entertainment. Sometimes, it is the comfort of watching a film at home without having to look at the clock. At other times, it is the excitement of stepping out and sharing the experience with others. While the way people watch movies has changed, there is still room for both the convenience of OTT and the enduring charm of cinema halls.
