Writer-actor Rahul Ramakrishna expressed his frustration over the quality of films that hit theatres in the recent past. Taking to X, the writer-actor suggested that some of the recent releases have not justified the trip to theatres, braving extreme summer heat and growing fuel prices, among other factors. "If your film cannot overpower the brutal summer heat, traffic, parking and petrol prices, inflated snacks, taxes,and the sheer exhaustion of modern life — don’t ask audiences to leave their homes for it. Empty movie halls are an honest verdict on how bad we have become at work," Rahul wrote.
The actor-writer also suggested that films have to have the spectacle that justifies theatrical viewing. "So, unless we can justify the ticket price with some awe-inspiring spectacular event that cannot be easily replicated on a phone screen, it is high time we sincerely introspect on how to really reward the audience’s patience. You can’t insult them and then demand gratitude," Rahul Ramakrishna added.
The writer-actor underscored the fact that audiences are knowledgeable enough to differentiate the good and the bad. "And please, for your own sake, let go of the arrogant belief that the audiences are too stupid to recognise bad filmmaking. Almost everyone is camera savvy and adept at filmmaking techniques now thanks to digitalisation. We still consider our “craft” as some mystical art form," the Arjun Reddy fame wrote.
Rahul also said that his 'rant' is not aimed at any specific film or filmmaker per se but is a general opinion. "Tweeting this after having watched an ENTIRE SEASON of films go kaput at the theatres. That’s it, that’s the only context. Add to it the general dissatisfaction of having to work with redundant material, outdated practices and inflated egos- that’s the reason for my twitter rants," he signed off.
