Why fan clubs can’t wait for the theatre experience

Movie theatres have been stifled on account of the pandemic, but the enthusiasm of fans has not been on the wane. We speak with fan club heads, as they help us understand why the theatres thrive

Bhuvanesh Chandar

(Originally published on 4th July 2021)

Cinema, for the longest time, had been thought of as a social experience, fit for the big screen. Though the arrival of television changed this somewhat, the last couple of years have driven daggers into the theatre experience. Even if theatres briefly showed a period of minor resurgence, audiences still seemed to remain hesitant, on account of the pandemic. What, then, of fans who thrived on the social experience and revelled in the screen presence of their star? How are they handling the loss of the theatre experience? How are they dealing with the absence of whistles, confetti, flex banners… Vicky Ram, a self-confessed ‘Rajinikanth-crazy fan’ and a fan club member, begins by noting that ‘mass scenes’ need a ‘mass experience’ and that this can only be offered by theatres. “I can never watch OTT content with the same excitement,” he says. “My friends aren’t there with me. I miss watching films with those like me, who share my love for thalaivar.”

The word ‘mass’ is often brought up in these conversations, and actor and film historian Mohan Raman believes we need to understand that term right. “OTT films also have punch dialogues, fights and dance numbers, don’t they?” he asks, and points out that..

Read the full feature here:

https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/trends/2021/jul/04/why-fan-clubs-cant-wait-for-the-theatre-experience-25298.html