Not without My Couch

The lockdown has led to a huge spike in content consumption, especially for OTTs.

- PRERNA LIDHOO AND AVEEK DATTA

MILLIONS OF INDIANS UNDER LOCKDOWN ARE TURNING TO OTTs FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

ALMOST A CENTURY AGO, the Great Depression triggered by the Wall Street crash of 1929 wreaked havoc on the global economy. Uncertainty and gloom predominated as millions of Americans struggled with poverty and unemployment.

Let’s call it the worst of times: For all, but the American film industry. Cinema and radio proved to be effective distractions during that decade, termed a golden period for Hollywood. Around 60 million-80 million Americans, it is said, would flock to cinema theatres every week, shelling out precious few cents for a ticket.

Today, a different calamity is staring at the world. The novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, that originated in Wuhan, China, in November last year, has already affected more than 2.5 million people globally, including around 24,000 in India (as on April 24). But unlike during the Great Depression, going to the movies is not an option. The virulent nature of the malaise has led to, among other measures, the closure of movie halls to prevent large-scale gatherings; even production of new films has come to a complete halt.