How OTT gave Madhur Bhandarkar’s indie films a second life

Madhur Bhandarkar, speaking on August 21, outlined why independent filmmakers rarely align with any lobby, gang or formal group within the Indian film sector. He stressed that a director’s real achievement lies in the emotional connections forged with spectators rather than commercial earnings. “Box‑office performance is unpredictable; audience taste can change overnight,” he said. The director recounted his experiences making movies such as Chandni Bar, Page 3, Fashion and Heroine, noting the artistic freedom he enjoys by staying outside the mainstream studio system. He usually allows a two‑ to three‑year interval between releases to conduct thorough research on the social milieu he intends to depict. Bhandarkar thanked digital streaming services and YouTube for breathing fresh relevance into his catalog, allowing younger viewers to discover his work years after its cinema debut. “Our greatest asset is the audience. Their love and memory keep us going,” he affirmed, adding that long‑term critical appreciation is far more valuable than first‑week box‑office returns.