Amit Khanna: Small screen, big screen

FREEZE FRAME

Television and films will share a closer relationship.

That there is a symbiotic bond between motion pictures and television is a bit of an understatement in this digital age .Yet the relationship between the two audio-visual siblings is uneasy. This must change and some beginnings have been made.

This year the venerated "Guild," which represents the best and most powerful names in Indian entertainment, added television to its name to become The Film & TV Producers Guild of India.

In this digital age, films and television are more than just the siblings they were till a few years ago. Different screen sizes, different filming formats and presentation are what have kept the two audio-visual media apart.

As we go forward, the distinctions will start diffusing. From using the same talent pool to similar story lines and obviously the same audiences, both media will share a symbiotic relationship. The first signs of this are already there for us to see.

One of our biggest stars, Shahrukh Khan, came to the movies via TV. Even the legendary Big B got a second lease of life via the tube. Many of our erstwhile film stars and technicians are playing their second innings on TV; some of our brightest youngsters like directors Kunal Kohli and Anurag Bose and several writers and technicians have come to films from the small screen.

Films are not only a major revenue earner for TV networks but also the fountainhead of these audio-visual industries.

In the past few years TV networks have provided a lot of financial input for the film industry. Every year the film production sector in Mumbai alone gets over Rs 100 crore from TV rights and another Rs 100 crore from video and cable rights - almost 20 per cent of the total box-office collections of Bollywood films. This amount is bound to increase in the years to come as newer technologies like broadband create new business opportunities for film producers.

In fact, every technological advancement like video and cable and satellite TV has provided succour to many a producer in distress. That is why I always say that films are a regenerative asset.

In the digital domain there will more possibilities and potential. This is also why I have a grudge against trade experts who pass weekly judgments on the fate of films without taking new revenue streams into account.

Today the digital world is opening new windows. Digital production and distribution too are going to become common in the next few years. Almost all films are edited and recorded digitally. Most big films are taking out a digital intermediate too. As we move to hi-resolution (4k) and the costs come down, we will see many more films actually being shot digitally and, if required, being transferred on film for release in conventional theatres.

Although we have over 150 digital cinemas, they have so far not been very successful. I see this changing. With abundant availability of high bandwidth through optic fibre and higher quality projection systems at lower costs, there should be at least 1,000 new E-cinemas around the country in the next few years.

While it is important to keep embracing new technologies, the other fundamental cornerstone of the digital age, intellectual property rights, too is important. It is not good enough to keep crying about piracy all the time. What is important is have proper legal contracts safeguarding rights as well the ability to harness every new opportunity.

The face of the music industry has changed globally and today thanks to legal digital downloads and newer applications like ring tones, there has been a resurgence in music sales. However, in India music companies are struggling for survival, talking about issues like remixes and an amendment to the copyright law. The digital world with its myriad derivatives like FM radio, music downloads and so on will open new vistas for monetising music rights. The film and TV industry have lessons to learn from this if they want to optimise their revenues.

What we are seeing is just the beginning. According to some estimates, by 2007 always-on broadband internet services will be a reality in most of the world. According to experts, three fundamental forces are shaping this network society "� the ability of computers to off load repetitive work from the human brain; electronic proximity (bringing distant people together); a new kind of middlemen , namely, the brokers necessary to match the information this person wants with the information that person has. This will radically change the way films and TV are watched.

As new devices become ubiquitous and inexpensive, entertainment will be accessed in many innovative ways. Our film makers and other creative professionals will have to learn and innovate to encash all the possibilities. Let us begin with more co-operation between TV and cinema!

(Amit Khanna is chairman of Reliance Entertainment. The views expressed here are his own)