A packed auditorium at the Kala Academy in Goa was not disappointed with the rendezvous veteran actor Manisha Koirala had with visionary filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane.

As Mallikajaan (Koirala) from ‘Heeramandi’ and the director (Motwane) behind acclaimed films like ‘Udaan’ and, ‘Lootera’, and series like ‘Sacred Games’, discussed content, direction and various mediums at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the conversation produced was not only insightful, but also engaging.

Discussing ‘From Big Screen to Streaming’ topic in an In-Conversation, the two dazzled all with their love for the content making process.

Koirala, who sang ‘Ilu, Ilu (I love you)…’ to Vivek Mushran in Subhash Ghai-directed ‘Saudagar’ decades back, was of the opinion that both theatrical releases and web series or films on OTT platforms require the same level of effort, preparation, sincerity and mindset from actors.

“In my thirty years of career, ‘Heeramandi’ (a web series produced for Netflix that went on to become a global hit earlier this year) was the biggest set I’ve ever worked on,” she revealed, while expressing her love for experiences saying, “I love going to theatres, but I also enjoy sitting at home and watching good content.”

According to her, both have their own significance, and there’s a wealth of excellent content available on OTT. “I binge-watch OTT content,” she added, acknowledging the platform’s appeal.

When asked if actors still hesitate to work in OTT shows, Manisha candidly replied that there are ongoing discussions in the industry about it. “Anything new and unfamiliar is often met with doubt initially,” she explained, “But good results encourage people to embrace it.”

According to a gist of the session put out by the organisers yesterday, she acknowledged that there is still some apprehension in the film industry regarding projects on streaming platforms. However, she expressed hope that “this will fade away in a few generations.”

Both Manisha and Motwane noted that many actors, including Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, have already starred in films released on OTT platforms, signalling a growing acceptance of the medium.

When Motwane asked if working for OTT platforms felt like a ‘come down’ from the big screen, Manisha replied, “Actors should break the mould. I didn’t want to be confined to just one genre. As an actor, you want to explore different facets.”

She further added, “Streaming is going to be a game changer. It’s opening up new opportunities and encouraging emerging filmmakers, writers, and actors to step into the spotlight.”

Manisha also noted that roles for older women are evolving compared to what senior actresses were offered in the past. “Thanks to the audience, OTT is slowly breaking the mould,” she said, adding, “In cinema as well, older actors are now being given meatier roles. A lot has changed since the ’90s and 2000s. There’s so much to learn.”

Bringing a director’s perspective to the conversation, Motwane, who is credited with successful projects in both formats, opined, “There is a separate kind of magic in a good series. It is hard to sustain multiple seasons from a creative perspective. It’s tough to keep the flow. And it is important that cast and crew energy sustain over the period.”

Speaking about his experience in both formats, he opined, “I enjoy breaking genres. My first four films were all for cinema (big screen). Streaming platforms give you a little bit of more freedom when it comes to language. OTT platforms give more liberty. For theatrical releases, the budget and length are limited, stories have to be more for the mass.”

However, production and post-production is almost the same, he said. “The shooting process is getting quicker. Ten episodes of ‘Jubilee’ were shot in 90 days, ‘Sacred Games’ was shot in 80 days”, he observed, adding, “You have to make more instinctive choices during shooting.”

Speaking on writing for shows for OTT platforms, Motwane felt that it’s a different process altogether. While writing, one has to keep the episodes and timing in mind, he noted. Both Manisha and Vikram agreed that there has to be a balance between big screen and OTT releases.

Vikram candidly agreed to the fact that giving direction to a series is a little difficult. “For showrunners it is difficult. Many international series have had different show runners for different seasons. OTT is a fairly new thing in India. We need to build on it. Bit by bit, it will happen”, he opined.

He believes that unnecessary intervals and lengthy ads are often disliked by audiences. “However, cinema on the big screen will always have its magic,” he added, noting that OTT platforms offer quality family entertainment and the freedom of private viewing. “A perfect blend of both formats will create a marvel in the cinema universe,” said Motwane.

On the issue of big screen vs OTT, both the industry reps agreed that ‘when boundaries are pushed, many new wonderful things happen’.