Is Hansal Mehta Questioning the Purpose of Formulaic Promotions?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Modern promotions often follow a rigid formula.
- Repetitive celebrity interviews may disengage audiences.
- True engagement requires creativity beyond standard practices.
- Quality content should be the primary focus of promotions.
- Mehta calls for innovative approaches to storytelling promotion.
Mumbai, July 4 (NationPress) Filmmaker Hansal Mehta recently expressed his views on social media regarding the state of promotions for films and series today.
He pointed out the monotonous nature of celebrity interviews and promotional appearances, questioning if these conventional marketing strategies truly resonate with audiences or merely uphold a façade of success. Without directly referencing specific films or individuals, Mehta scrutinized the repetitive tactics of contemporary promotional campaigns, pondering whether they genuinely captivate viewers or just uphold an illusion of achievement.
On Friday, the seasoned filmmaker took to his X account to highlight how today's promotional endeavors often adhere to a strict formula—the same actors featured on identical podcasts, responding to the same questions, and making similar appearances across various cities and events.
Hansal Mehta stated, “Do these generic, template promotions for films and series truly work? Do they encourage viewership? Do they enhance the quality of the film or series? Or do they merely support an ecosystem built on illusion—PR firms, costume designers, event coordinators, influencers, sponsors, red carpets, press briefings, paid 'reviews', social media hype. Everything seems like success.”(sic)
“It feels like popularity. But is it? Shouldn't an impressive trailer ignite curiosity? Shouldn't engaging promotional materials and—most importantly—a quality film or series suffice? Instead, we find ourselves watching the same actors respond to the same ten questions on identical podcasts in the same studios, flying from one city to another, chasing a perception.”
The director of ‘Buckingham Murders’ concluded his post with, “This isn’t a rant—it’s a question: What’s the most effective way to promote a story today without becoming part of a system that benefits neither the art nor the artist?”
Hansal Mehta, recognized for his candid opinions, is renowned for directing films like “Shahid,” “Faraaz,” “Chhalaang,” and the television series “Scam 1992” and “The Buckingham Murders.” He commenced his career in 1993 by directing the cooking show “Khana Khazana” on Zee TV, which also saw the rise of celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor on television.