What is the difference between web series and movies?

Q. What is the difference between web series and movies?

Comparing Indian Web Series and Traditional Bollywood Films/TV Serials

The rise of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hotstar has transformed the way audiences consume content in India. These platforms have given birth to a new wave of storytelling in the form of web series, which offer a stark contrast to the traditional formats of Bollywood films and TV serials. By analyzing two web series from popular platforms, we can delve into how they differ from the conventional world of Bollywood and TV in terms of storytelling, character representation, and production quality. Furthermore, by understanding the changing habits of regular OTT viewers, we can better appreciate the shift in content consumption in recent years.

Storytelling in Web Series vs. Bollywood Films and TV Serials

One of the most noticeable differences between web series and traditional Bollywood films is the approach to storytelling. In the case of Bollywood films, there has traditionally been a focus on delivering a tightly-knit narrative within a span of two to three hours. These films typically revolve around high-concept stories filled with dramatic highs and lows, often leaning into emotional or formulaic storytelling.

In contrast, web series offer much more room for nuanced, layered, and long-form storytelling. This extended format allows creators to build more intricate plots and explore characters over the course of several episodes or seasons. For example, in the case of the web series Sacred Games (Netflix), viewers are presented with a multi-layered narrative that spans multiple timelines, weaving together personal stories, historical contexts, and social issues. This complexity would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in a traditional Bollywood film, which often requires a faster-paced, more linear approach to storytelling.

Similarly, Mirzapur (Amazon Prime) offers a gritty crime drama that explores power, corruption, and familial ties in a fictional Indian town. Its storytelling is spread across several episodes, allowing the narrative to evolve in unexpected directions. The slow-burn nature of the plot, which gradually unveils various facets of its characters, is something more commonly seen in television formats rather than films.

In comparison, Bollywood films typically prioritize the emotional arcs of characters within a limited timeframe. While films like Kabir Singh or Gully Boy showcase character-driven stories, they are constrained by their 2-3 hour run time, forcing a quicker resolution of conflicts and character evolution. While there are a few exceptions, such as Barfi! or Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, the predominant focus in Bollywood is often on a fast-paced narrative designed to cater to a wide audience.

Indian TV serials, on the other hand, tend to follow a formulaic and episodic structure, often featuring over-the-top melodrama, emotional storylines, and long-running plots. These serials are designed to be more accessible to a mass audience, with repetitive plots and conflicts that span years. The episodes are often predictable, focusing on family dynamics, societal norms, and relationships.

In contrast, OTT web series like The Family Man (Amazon Prime) offer a fresh perspective on complex themes like geopolitics, terrorism, and personal sacrifice while maintaining an engaging narrative. The content is often more layered, mature, and unpredictable, reflecting a departure from the conventional TV serial format.

Character Representation in Web Series vs. Bollywood Films and TV Serials

Character representation is another area where Indian web series often differ significantly from traditional Bollywood films and TV serials. Bollywood, for the longest time, has been known for its larger-than-life characters, with heroes and heroines embodying ideals of perfection and morality. Villains are often one-dimensional, and women are frequently relegated to the role of the romantic lead or an object of desire.

However, OTT platforms have allowed for a more diverse and nuanced portrayal of characters. In web series, characters are allowed to be flawed, complicated, and multifaceted. In Sacred Games, for example, the central character of Sartaj Singh, played by Saif Ali Khan, is a morally ambiguous, self-loathing police officer struggling with his professional and personal life. Similarly, Mirzapur features characters like Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), whose evolution from a ruthless crime lord to a man grappling with his conscience adds depth to the narrative. These characters are allowed to make mistakes, confront their demons, and evolve over time, providing audiences with more realistic and relatable portrayals.

In Bollywood films, this level of complexity is often harder to find. Films tend to favor clear-cut character arcs, with heroes and heroines who overcome their personal flaws to emerge victorious. Even in movies that try to address darker or more complex issues, the characters often end up following a predictable trajectory. For example, in films like Dangal or Piku, while the characters are well-rounded and complex, the structure of the film does not allow for the kind of long-term character exploration seen in web series.

Indian TV serials, on the other hand, tend to feature characters that are often stereotyped and lack depth. The focus is typically on dramatic relationships, family conflicts, and emotional struggles that are intended to resonate with a broad audience. While some TV serials have ventured into more realistic depictions of family life, they still lean heavily on melodrama and repetitive tropes.

Web series like Delhi Crime (Netflix) or Made in Heaven (Amazon Prime) depict characters grappling with societal expectations, personal dilemmas, and systemic corruption. These characters are often more grounded in reality, facing challenges that resonate with the modern viewer. Women, in particular, have a more substantial role in web series compared to their portrayal in traditional Bollywood films, where they are often secondary to the male protagonist’s journey. In Made in Heaven, for instance, women are shown as multi-dimensional characters with their own personal struggles, desires, and growth, unlike the stereotypical romantic leads in Bollywood.

Production Quality in Web Series vs. Bollywood Films and TV Serials

The production quality of Indian web series has also seen a significant leap compared to traditional Bollywood films and TV serials. The advent of platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime has led to a shift in the way content is produced, with an emphasis on high production values, global appeal, and international standards.

In terms of cinematography, editing, and direction, web series like Sacred Games and Paatal Lok (Amazon Prime) are on par with high-quality international television shows. These series boast cinematic visuals, intricate set designs, and top-notch technical expertise, which elevate the storytelling. The budgets allocated for these series, while smaller than that of blockbuster Bollywood films, are still substantial enough to allow for impressive production quality that matches the demands of a global audience.

Bollywood films, on the other hand, have historically been more focused on glamour, spectacle, and star power, often leading to a mismatch between the production value and the substance of the story. While films like Bajirao Mastani or Padmaavat showcase extraordinary production values, many films fail to deliver when it comes to subtlety, realism, and depth in their production choices. Bollywood films also tend to follow a formulaic approach in terms of music, choreography, and visual effects, often prioritizing commercial appeal over creative innovation.

Indian TV serials, traditionally produced on much lower budgets, often lack the same level of polish. The use of artificial lighting, exaggerated set designs, and melodramatic music is common in many serials, which can detract from the overall viewing experience. While some channels have improved production quality, Indian TV serials still lag behind when compared to the high standards set by OTT platforms.

Changing Viewing Habits of OTT Audiences

The rise of OTT platforms has drastically altered the viewing habits of audiences in India. The flexibility of on-demand streaming allows viewers to watch content whenever and wherever they choose, without the restrictions of scheduled programming. As a result, viewers no longer need to adhere to the rigid time slots dictated by TV serials. This shift has allowed for a more personalized viewing experience, where binge-watching entire seasons of a web series in one sitting has become a common activity.

To understand how OTT has changed viewing habits, I spoke to Ravi, a regular viewer of web series. Ravi shared that he used to watch a lot of TV serials and Bollywood films but switched to platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime for the sheer variety and quality of content. He mentioned that the ability to binge-watch entire seasons of a series allows him to get deeply involved with the characters and plotlines. He also highlighted that the mature themes, better writing, and more realistic portrayals of characters are major reasons why he prefers web series over traditional films and TV shows. According to Ravi, the international content available on these platforms, such as Money Heist and Stranger Things, has further broadened his tastes in entertainment.

Furthermore, OTT platforms provide content in multiple languages and genres, appealing to a wider demographic. While Bollywood films and TV serials often cater to a specific audience, OTT platforms offer more diverse and inclusive programming, from comedy and drama to crime thrillers and documentaries. The accessibility of international content and the global reach of platforms like Netflix has also exposed Indian viewers to storytelling styles and cultures from around the world, influencing their expectations from Indian web series.

Conclusion

The transformation in Indian entertainment, driven by the success of OTT platforms, has ushered in a new era of storytelling, character development, and production values. Web series provide an opportunity for more nuanced, long-form narratives that traditional Bollywood films and TV serials cannot match. With more complex characters, realistic portrayals, and high production quality, these series have redefined the way Indian audiences engage with entertainment. As viewers' habits evolve, the demand for diverse, globally competitive content continues to shape the future of Indian storytelling on digital platforms.

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