The movie theater business has all but come to a grinding halt in most parts of the world due to the coronavirus pandemic and more so in Tamil Nadu too. Even though the government allowed theaters to operate with fifty percent occupancy from Diwali the response from the audiences has been less than lukewarm.

There is huge uncertainty among the theater fraternity as only when big heroes films release they could expect the crowds to return. On the other hand producers are wary of risking theater releases and are slowly moving towards OTT platforms.

The Tamil Nadu Theater Owners Association head Tirupur Subramaniyam has made a shocking allegation that Amazon is trying to destroy the movie theater business by leasing standalone theaters and converting them into godowns to house the goods that the company sells.

Subramaniyam has added that Amazon has offered double the income to the theater owners than what they would generally get only if a big hero's film releases and many across Tamil Nadu have decided to take the offer. In another way through Amazon Prime Video OTT platform too the Jeff Bezos-owned company has become a major threat to the theaters according to the veteran.

Subramaniyam has requested film producers, actors, and distributors to come out with a proper strategy to counter this threat from Amazon. He has pointed out that if only multiplexes exist then they would dictate the terms and producers have to oblige and small and standalone theaters are important for the thriving of the film industry.