New Delhi, March 4 -- The past few weeks have seen a horde of releases flood cinemas with limited showcasing and negligible marketing and promotions, translating into nearly zero footfall and box office collections.

Films such as Mayasabha, Rahu Ketu, and One Two Cha Cha Chaa have been given 'token' theatrical releases in low-traffic morning or afternoon slots. These formal screenings are a strategic necessity as streaming platforms now mandate a theatrical run as a prerequisite for any OTT sale.

Theatre owners said a brief cinema run can help a film gain some legitimacy and qualify for acquisitions by streaming platforms even though audiences are barely even aware of them. Despite the success of some small- and mid-budget films such as...