Pratik Gandhi, Pankaj Tripathi, Jaideep Ahlawat and Rasika Dugal… are just some of the good actors who have been captured to the status of ‘streaming superstar’ in the past year and now want to build on their successes. a job description in a year that stretches on with potential and capability.
The coronavirus pandemic may have cost filmmakers a theatrical experience but the rise of streaming platforms puts pressure on a number of actors who have kept audiences investing in feature films and long-form shows. The rise of OTT (over the surface) also allowed the entertainment industry to democratize and break free from the traditional star system.
As Indians practice in 2021, hopefully vaccination will mean the spread of the disease is over, humor is clearly months away and audiences will still be glued to the laptop, mobile screens. and TV to watch films and shows in the safety of their homes. Clearly, OTT platforms are here to stay.
“OTT has opened big doors for all creative people, be it writers, actors, directors, technologists, everyone,” said Sayani Gupta, who stars in the popular shows of Amazon Prime Video Inside Edge and Four more shots please.
Creators don’t need a salable name, just good actors who fit their roles in the streaming arena, she said.
It would be hard to imagine the success of shows like Mirzapur, Criminal Justice, Panchayat, Lok Paatal, Aarya, Scam 1992: The Story of Harshad Mehta, Four more hits please! and Bandish Bandits without the outstanding performance of the actors.
Streaming, it seems, has finally managed to free content from the two-hour window that required theater notifications. Without worrying anymore about the opening numbers, creators understand that crisp writing and strong performance is the surefire way to keep viewers on stories that span several seasons and seasons.
This can be good news for many actors who found the call on OTT platforms.
“You don’t have to open an OTT or a weekend gathering. What happens with movies is that even if the film is good, if it doesn’t do well in the box office, people will tag a flop on it, “said Tripathi, the quiet father of” Gunjan Saxena “on Netflix, the a powerful mafia of “Mirzapur season 2” on Amazon Prime Video and the funny and cunning lawyer at “Disney Criminal Justice: Behind Dored Doors”.
Tripathi, which has emerged as one of the industry’s most influential artists in cinema as well as exhibitions, is influencing this rise of artists on streaming platforms to freedom which the medium gives to the actors and creators.
Writing and achievements are the only criteria for judging the content on OTT and creators know they can’t rely on gimmicks to tell the story, he said.
“Manufacturers are free because gimmicks don’t work here. What matters is your writing and your accomplishment. And you have time to say what you want in six to eight hours but in a cinema you only have two hours to prove the team and the hero.
“When writing becomes important, you need actors who can explore the layers and complexity of the story. It’s easy to connect to OTT but it’s easier to turn down because if the audience doesn’t like them they will move on to another show, ”said Tripathi.
Ahlawat, Tripathi’s co-star in “Wasseypur” was noticed in Meghna Gulzar’s “Raazi”. But it was not until he turned as Inspector Hathiram Chaudhuri into “Pataal Lok” that he came into his own. The actor explains his role as jaded cop ‘Jamuna paar’ attempting to plot a murder attempt on a TV journalist, played by Neeraj Kabi, another streaming star, a role explaining a man.
“With the advent of the third screen, actors have a golden opportunity to reach out to a wider audience – not just worldwide but also deeper into small towns and cities in the world. India.
“With unique storytelling and long-form content created for the digital streaming space, this is a good time for actors to explore unconventional roles and characters that appeal to the audience,” Ahlawat told PTI.
Show creator Sudip Sharma and producer Anushka Sharma have been enthusiastic about a second season, and Hathiram Ahlawat may well return soon.
Mirzapur, another cult crime drama set in UP, has already announced their third season, paving the way for the return of Tripathi, Dugal, Ali Fazal and Shweta Tripathi. Dugal, who has become popular as Beena Tripathi enters Mirzapur, also earns praise for her leg as Savita Mehra on Mira Nair Responsible boy on Netflix.
According to acting director Abhishek Banerjee, played by Hathoda Tyagi Lok Paatal, streaming services have led to real democracy in the industry.
“I have been saying this for five years that streaming is the best place for actors to try, evolve and reach out. It’s a big globe and if you’re good and the show is well done, it doesn’t depend on what stage it’s on, people will talk about it, ”he said.
“The real truth of democracy is on the web because you look in your own house. You are not buying a ticket. You don’t even have to watch something for more than 10 minutes if you don’t like it. It also frees the creators because they can do what they want without having to worry about whether or not they get the audience, ”he said.
“It’s accessible and also very democratic. I love that. With OTT, you only need a good actor who will meet the role perfectly. You don’t need a ‘salable’ name or a star to make the show stand out. And you have examples of that all around you. Sometimes lesser known actors work much better for some features… as it is Lok Paatal. These are amazing actors who get their money’s worth, ”said Gupta.
Gurat cinema star Pratik Gandhi became the find of the year with his binding performance as the controversial stock broker Harshad Mehta in the acclaimed Hansal Mehta series
Life has completely changed for the actor, who is happy that his achievement has made an impact.
“I’m pleased that people are looking at my previous work and appreciating my achievement. But I’ve just been honest with my work, I’m just like I was before (1992 scam), but only busy answering calls and doing interviews, “he told PTI in a recent interview.
In an interview with PTI in October, Aparna Purohit, head of India Originals at Amazon Prime Video, described the rise of OTT platforms as “the revival of media and entertainment in India”.
“I think it’s a great time for the whole artistic community, both in front of the camera and behind the camera. I, of course, call it a revival of the media and entertainment in India where all sorts of stories are told, all sorts of genres are explored. It’s a great opportunity for new writers, actors and composers, ”said Purohit.