'Broke my heart': Huma Qureshi on 'Single Salma's limited release
What's the story
Actor-producer Huma Qureshi recently opened up about the struggles of independent films in India. Speaking at the 10th edition of Expresso, she revealed her recent film Single Salma was released in fewer than 200 theaters, with just one show in Andheri. "It really broke my heart when I saw that," she said.
Marketing woes
'Single Salma' struggled due to lack of promotion
Qureshi also lamented the lack of marketing for Single Salma. "It wasn't really promoted, there was no marketing spend on it, not even a bare minimum," she said. "There was no real buzz or conversation around it because there was a belief that now it will come on a streamer." "I feel it is going to kill the business because the big machismo and the blockbusters are not going to sustain the business."
Disparity concern
Qureshi highlighted the disparity in film releases
Qureshi further highlighted the disparity in film releases. "Right now, I have a Maharani, Delhi Crime. I had Jolly LLB 3," she mentioned, indicating her involvement in various projects. "In the middle of all this, if a small film is coming, the least one expects is for that to get a basic level of showcasing." She added that Single Salma didn't even get a 200-screen release and was only shown once at 4:30pm in Andheri near her home.
Industry impact
Qureshi expressed concern over the impact on industry workers
Qureshi also expressed concern over the impact of decreased film production on daily wage laborers in the industry. "I don't have the exact metrics, but we are making half of the number of films we used to make in the industry earlier," she said. "It doesn't affect me, but it affects the lives of the daily wage laborers."
Festival film concerns
Qureshi's fears for her festival film 'Bayaan'
Qureshi also spoke about her festival film Bayaan, which is yet to be sold to a streamer. "If it doesn't get picked up by any major streamer, the producer will be forced to release it in theaters," she said. "Because it's a small budget film, it cannot afford or compete with the big blockbusters of the world." She stressed the need for all players in the industry to align for long-term benefits.