20 minutes agoAuthor: Bharti Dwivedi
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Aamir Khan announced the release of the film ‘Stars Zameen Par’ on YouTube on 29 August. From August 1, his film will be available on Aamir Khan Talkies for just 100 rupees. In a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Aamir has spoken openly about this idea.
He explained how he took care of the view concept on the cinema hall for YouTube. He was thinking about it for 15 years. What were the challenges in the meantime and how they have added all the links one by one. Now that his dream is being fulfilled, he wants people to sit with their family, neighbor or whole village and watch the film at an affordable price.
The ‘Stars on the ground’ talks on a very serious issue with comedy. How do you see its success? The purpose that you wanted to give through this film was fulfilled?
This film has received a lot of love and respect. In the theater, the film has been well liked in the country, worldwide. I am very happy with this, RS Prasanna, Genelia and the entire cast crew. But the truth is that there is very little cinema hall in our country. When any film is successful, only 2-3 percent of the people can see according to the population of that country. I am saying this for the biggest successful film like ‘Pushpa’, ‘Animal’, ‘Dangal’, ‘Gadar-2’.
In such a situation, 97 percent of the country’s population has not seen these films so far. He must have heard of the film. He would know that this is a successful film and people liked it very much. He wants to watch the film but the film has not reached him. This is because there are many areas across the country, where theater is far away. Apart from this, there are many reasons.
‘Stars on the ground’ is sports comedy. It showed a serious issue like Down syndrome.
I have made an attempt for all these reasons. My endeavor is to reach every Hindustani my film. Every Indian could watch my film at an affordable price. it’s my dream. About 15 years ago, I realized that we do not reach most of our country’s population through theater. In such a situation, we have to find another means.
For 15 years, I have been struggling with how we will be able to reach the audience of our country in an affordable manner. I have to reach every corner of the country. When I was struggling with all these questions, then some things changed around us. Because of these, today I think we are ready for step in that direction. The first change in it was when our government launched UPI in 2016. Today everyone is using it. Hindustan is currently the number one country in terms of electronic payment. When you come on a digital platform, electronic payment is first needed. In such a situation, the biggest challenge for my dream, it became solved due to the government. After this, internet is required. Everyone has access to the Internet in the last few years and it has to increase in the coming days. Apart from this, many people have smartphones, smart TVs and smart devices. Now it was possible for me to do all this.
Then I thought which platform would be the best for my experiment. Then I felt that YouTube is that platform because YouTube is everywhere. Almost every human has access to YouTube. Those who choose YouTube for their entertainment in the country and the world are very high. As a creative person, my dream is that my film reaches every Indian, it is possible with the mixture of UPI, Internet and YouTube. My cinema reached every Hindustani and reached easily. He was able to choose his place on his time and see it at an affordable price. My dream was, I have been fulfilling now.
Aamir was also present with Aamir during the conversation, Gunjan Soni, Country Managing Director of YouTube India.
YouTube is a free platform. What do you think the audience would like to see the content by paying money on YouTube?
See, whatever cinema we have seen in the last hundred years, they have always seen in the view. This means that we go theater. One time gives money and one time watchs the film. We have been following this model in theaters for centuries. I am bringing this model of cinema on YouTube. You can watch the film by paying one time. Here you can watch the film with the entire family so that the cost of the film is reduced further.
This is a concept in which 100 people or the entire village can watch the film together. If we are giving video on demand for 100 rupees, then four people are watching it, then every person will cost 25 rupees. My endeavor is to reach more and more people at affordable prices and they can watch their favorite film or show.
Today we are taking initiative with the film but you can put shorts in it. You can put a series, half -hour show, short story on it. Here the creator can decide the price of everything. He can decide how much money he has spent, how much he wants to earn his video and what he wants to charge.
In the last few years, there has been a decrease in the concept sitting together and watching the film. How much does your calculation fit in such a situation?
See, every man will have to decide himself. If I want to see the content alone then I will see alone. The film we have made is a family film. I want people to watch movies together. I would like you to sit with your children. I want the family to sit together and see it, but I would like you to call your neighbor too. If someone in the village has a smart TV, then the whole village can sit together and watch the film. I promote this thing a lot. And the more people sit together and see, the more economical will be for them.
Let me tell you that two-three months ago I started Aamir Khan Talkies YouTube. I had kept this name thinking because I knew that after some time this film would come on this talkies at the right time. I have also given it a name, the public theater. The Aamir Khan Talkies I have made can be in your pocket, on the wall and on your table. I want every Indian to feel that this is my theater and can see whatever they want. Aamir Khan also has free content on Talkies. It also has ‘stars on the ground’.
There are also old films of Aamir Khan Production. Here, the old films of my Abba Jaan, they will also be seen. You can choose what you want to see. If you want to see free content, then they can also see.
Recently your film ‘Andaz Apna-Apna’ was released. Which film of Aamir Khan Production would you like to release?
See, 25 years of rent is going to be completed. Next year Lagaan will complete 25 years. Next year we are thinking that we must do something. The audience who likes Lagaan so much, he also got a chance to celebrate. During that time we will definitely think that we came to the theater.
The film ‘Lagaan’ released in 2002 was Aamir Khan Production’s first film.
You have been seen as a mentor in some of your previous films. Is this planning or just a coincidence?
This is absolutely coincidental. I did the story I liked. However, I am not a mentor in ‘Stars Zameen Par’, but I learn from 10 stars in the film. He is my mentor in this film.