Pasting my comment made on the same post in a different community.
After a traditional cinematic run, his latest release, Sitaare Zameen Par (Stars on Earth), will be made available for audiences exclusively on YouTube for just 100 rupees, the equivalent of less than £1. Other films in his back catalogue and future releases will follow.
This is not going to work.
People who like to watch movies and can afford ₹100, will watch it in theatres where several state governments already cap the ticket prices between ₹100-250. They go to theatres for the communal experience.
Those who can not afford, would watch the same movie on YouTube hosted by another channel for free.
Heck, people who can afford, choose to pirate movies because it is less of a hassle.
Though I applaud the move made by him, I have to think this move was persuaded more by YouTube as well as the fact that the movie failed to capture the magic of its “spiritual” predecessor.