Exhibitor Rathi: Content, not screens, India's film need

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi has initiated a significant industry discussion by addressing Aamir Khan's recent comments on India's theatrical infrastructure. Khan had proposed that increasing the number of cinema screens, potentially to 15,000, would significantly boost film business potential.

Rathi countered Khan's theoretical viewpoint, grounding it in the realities of exhibition. He questioned the necessity of a vast screen increase when current releases often have limited reach, particularly for the majority of existing screens beyond major urban centers.

Rathi stressed the distinction between infrastructure and content, noting that while building screens is feasible, their economic viability hinges on a consistent supply of compelling films. He argued that exhibitors cannot thrive on only a few major releases annually.

He concluded that while India does need thousands of additional screens, the prerequisite is the development of films that can justify and support such expansion, indicating a readiness from exhibitors to invest if content creators deliver.