Bollywood is world famous. Every Indian is mad about films and its a defining aspect of Indian culture. Indian films are now being known world over. India makes the largest number of movies in the world. Apart from Hindi films, there is a thriving film industry in many Indian languages. This must be a huge industry right?
Wrong. The entire Indian film industry size is just $ 2.2 bn. Just 60% of Infosys. One tenth the size of Reliance. The entire industry. That's it. Read the FICCI KPMG report for all the gory details.
Most films lose money. And for its tiny size, its expected to grow only 9% next year after a flat last year. Sounds like a dog industry.
How come ? Surely there's something wrong. You have one billion crazy Indians all wanting to imitate Shahrukh Khan or Aishwarya Rai. Not to speak of the rest of the world where lots want to learn "Bollywood dancing". Terrific talent in singing, dancing, acting amongst the Indians - just go to any college or company function. Fanatic demand. Great talent supply. And yet a tiny industry.
Why ? I am a self confessed ignoramus on Indian movies - haven't watched one for a few years. That won't stop me from speculating (that's the nice thing about blogging - you can wax eloquently on things you don't have a clue about) !
- The size is probably understated as the industry is not all above board. But even at 2 or 3 times the stated number, its still a tiny industry.
- Its highly unprofessional. A lot of financing is by the underworld and professional management just does not exist.
- Marketing is an unknown function. There's no merchandising at all (how many Lagaan cricket bats have you seen ?)
- Its not really sold globally. Whatever is taken global is for the expat Indian audience. Actually the films, with their song and dance, does have universal appeal.
- There's zero market research. Do the producers really understand their customer - what do they want ? What are the market segments - the bhaiyya watches completely different stuff from the aunty.
- Much of the product is garbage. That's why most films lose money - they are trash and deserve to lose money.
The industry has a larger than life image, but in reality its a mouse. There's a lot of noise, but little to shout about.
Corporate India - get on to the movie industry.
Now that's a thought. Won't you want to work in a company where you see Aishwarya on Monday, Kareena on Tuesday, Priyanka on Wednesday ......
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6 comments:
Your last point hit the nail right on head. Content they produce is of poor quality and hardly watchable. And not so innovativeness plots is making their life difficult. We are still making movies on plots which are too cliched and not many actors, producers are ready to tread an unconventional path.
Corporate did try to enter in movie business but high costs of production and exobitant prices of actors/actresses is making this business unviable for them.
Yes Adesh. But what beats me is that it is such a great business and they seem to be making a pig's breakfast out of it.
Most businesses would die for customer loyalty like what movies evoke.
I don't know if this is proven anywhere, but there is a lot of "under the table" transaction in the movie business.What is on paper is probably not a true reflection of what transpired.But I may be misinformed.
Oh yes - there's under the table for sure. Look at how much of underworld money is going to finance films. But even then, the industry seems far too small for its potential.
The content of movies have drastically changed consistently as compared with from the 70's , 80's and 90s flicks.Today's thrillers and Multiplex movies cater to a certain type of audience and then there are b grade and c grade stuff as well and a lot of run of the mill trash for the man on the road. Everything sells. The production and distribution has changed as well.
It has however not become an organized industry with some amount of transparency or even a strategy for a period etc. People from all walks of life watch the same movies and hence enjoy or reject some of them for various reasons peculiar to them. I feel that that as society in India progresses with more people getting educated and the quality of life improving for all classes of people in the country, we can also see Bollywood become more organized. I also hope that Tollywood, Kollywood, Mollywood and Sandalwood will also follow suit :-)
Thanks Anon for visiting and for a solid comment. What beats me is that TV, which caters to a very similar market is much more professionalised, while movies is not.
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