In a recent chat with IndiaTV, Madhavan opened up about the struggles filmmakers face today. From changing audience tastes to cultural shifts and endless distractions, he said it’s becoming harder to hold people’s attention inside the theatre.
“Popcorn or pani puri? That’s a big decision now”
Madhavan recalled the older days when cinema snacks were limited. “Back in the day, when we went to see a film in the theatres, we didn’t have many options in the food and beverages department. It was either popcorn or samosa. But today, there is a huge decision that has to be made there,” he said.
He explained how going to the theatre has become a long and tiring task. “You have to take your vehicle, park it, pay for the parking, brave the weather, guide your family through security, and just before you enter, there’s the smell of popcorn in the air, which I’m not even sure is fresh.”
Food menus and flashing mobiles
That’s not all. Inside the hall, it’s not always the film grabbing attention, sometimes, it’s the food menu.
“Suddenly, you see a flash of light because someone is reading the menu. And some even order pani puri and use their mobile phones to figure out what pani they’re having,” Madhavan added. “We have to fight all this to get your attention.”He joked that if the film isn’t exciting enough, things can get even worse. “Parents start arguing over money wasted, and one of them rushes back to the parking lot to avoid the rush at the end. It’s almost traumatic… and if your film annoys them, they won’t forgive you.”After the success of Test, R Madhavan is set to appear in Kesari: Chapter 2, alongside Akshay Kumar and Ananya Panday. The film is set for release on 18 April in cinemas.
