Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will release the online link of Karma on September 16, which the makers claim to be the first Tamil movie to be released through different online channels. It’s directed by R Arvind, an advertising professional, who has been running an ad agency for the past 15 years. “We make movies, and the distinction is created by the audience. For a while, people were drawn by TV. They got tired of it, and now social media has got all the limelight. This change in interests and access had its own pros and cons. Cinema is seen as a business, but with the purpose of consumption, discussion and sharing views.”
According to him, a movie’s importance doesn’t decrease simply because it doesn’t release in theatres. “To take a product to a larger section of the audience, there’s a need for financial and industry support. I hope this move will motivate many young filmmakers. It’s a new beginning to the future of Tamil cinema. Karma is an experimental independent movie,” he adds.
Filmmaking has empowered youngsters like never before. If you have a story, an idea, actors, some money, making films is possible. But what happens when the dream is realised? “That’s when you look out for a platform to sell, distribute and exhibit you product. YouTube, FB etc creates buzz around the film. Whereas they don’t translate into revenue,” elaborates Arvind.
And how does he recover the cost incurred? “This film isn’t free for anybody’s viewing pleasure. You got to pay. There are right audience for small-budget films and the problem comes when you take the same route, say, a hardcore commercial flick! So I chose different platform to market my film,” he smiles.
Is he satisfied doing independent filmmaking? “See, we are seen as someone, who works outside the typical production and distribution network sides. We attempt to exercise artistic or thematic control over the medium,” he says.
Karma, a minimalist murder-mystery investigation story, has been nominated in Madrid International Film Festival for Best Director of a Foreign language Feature Film. The film was also officially selected for Hollywood Sky Film Festival. “Karma, took 9 months, has been certified as ‘U’. I always have a choice to release it in theatres later, if its needed,” Arvind says.
The film will be available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Video and so on through pay per view mode.