From Village Square to Virtual Screen: OTT Platforms and the Future of Folk Arts and Theatre in India

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted global economies, industries, and culture, with the performing arts sector being among the most affected. In India, theatre, especially folk theatre, experienced unprecedented challenges as nationwide lockdowns halted live performances, closed auditoriums, and cut off income for thousands of artists. While cinema and urban theatre found partial respite through the rapid adoption of over-the-top (OTT) platforms, folk theatre faced significant barriers, including technological inaccessibility, digital illiteracy, and economic constraints of rural audiences. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on India’s performing arts, with a particular focus on folk theatre, and critically analyzes the promises and perils of OTT adoption. It highlights the structural inequalities between organized and unorganized sectors, explores socio-economic and generational changes within artist communities, and discusses the potential transformation of thematic concerns due to commercialization pressures. Integrating over-the-top platforms into theater, especially traditional forms, presents difficulties, despite the reach and ease they provide for movies. The study concludes that while theatre in India has historically survived invasions, neglect, and changing societal tastes, its post-pandemic survival depends on adaptive strategies that preserve its essence while navigating technological change.

Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 12, Issue-4: 169-174.