Filmmaker Kanu Behl has sparked an urgent conversation around the shrinking space for independent cinema in India, after his critically acclaimed film Agra was denied adequate shows in multiplexes upon release.
The director took to social media on November 13 to publicly call out exhibitors for sidelining smaller films in favour of larger commercial releases. His tweets quickly gained traction, rallying support from the film fraternity including Manoj Bajpayee, Saiyami Kher and Sudhir Mishra.
On the morning of November 14, Agra’s release day, Kanu Behl posted a screenshot on X showing that the film had secured just four shows across three Mumbai cinemas.
Captioning the image “slow claps”, he highlighted the alarming disparity between indie films and big-budget mainstream titles. After his posts went viral, the film managed to expand to nine cinemas in the city by November 15, but as he noted, this is still painfully inadequate.
Speaking to Bollywood Hungama about when he realised the film was being squeezed out, Kanu Behl said, “I was a part of this conversation in peripheral ways since I am the director. I didn’t know upfront. 2 weeks back, we got the initial list of about 100 screens, out of which 9 belonged to PVR Inox. It was quite less.” He added that things took a turn for the worse when he was informed that “shows nahin mil raha hai as all the shows were given to the bigger films.”
Kanu insists the demand from indie filmmakers is modest and reasonable. “We are not asking for 1000 screens or even 500 screens. We are only asking for 100 good screens. Why can’t we get 100 good screens that are accessible and are at a convenient time so that people can sample the film?”
Despite the limited progress made after online pressure, Kanu Behl pointed out that major chains continue to keep Agra out. “But this whole thing about the big chains having a monopoly is a real issue. It doesn’t concern only me or my film Agra. It is an issue of the independent filmmaking community at large.”
The director drew attention to how other acclaimed small films like All We Imagine As Light, Homebound, Sabar Bonda, Jugnuma, have faced similar hurdles. He believes it’s time for collective action, “Now, all of us independent filmmakers are coming together, and we are going to raise our voices collectively.”
Some users suggested an OTT release, but Kanu Behl rejected the idea, calling out platforms for their own opaque ecosystem. “The rights have not been sold. But my question is, why not theatres? Why should my film also go directly into the black hole called OTT?”
He questioned the cultural decay that sidelines artistic expression, saying, “Has the decay of our culture gotten so bad and has the rot set so deep that no one just cares anymore? Is it all about Rs 100 crore or Rs 1000 crore or Rs 5000 crore? When will this shameless capitalist consumerist activity stop?”
Agra had its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight section. It received appreciation for its bold narrative and unique storytelling.
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