It’s common nowadays to hear about independent and niche films not getting the desired number of shows in cinemas. Many filmmakers remain apprehensive about raising their voices against this trend. However, Kanu Behl decided not to stay silent.
On Thursday, November 13, Kanu Behl took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to reveal that his film *Agra* had been denied adequate shows. According to him, this was due to the dominance of so-called ‘big blockbusters’ and the fact that small films “don’t fit into multiplex programming.”
On the morning of November 14, the release day of *Agra*, he shared a screenshot showing that his film was playing in just 3 cinemas across Mumbai, with a total of 4 shows. Captioning the picture “slow claps,” Kanu expressed his frustration clearly.
### Kanu Behl on Multiplex Screen Denials:
“We are NOT asking for 1000 screens; we are only asking for 100 good screens. Has the rot set so deep that no one just cares anymore? Is it all about Rs. 1000 crores or Rs. 5000 crores?” he questioned passionately.
Following his public outcry, several industry stalwarts including Manoj Bajpayee, Saiyami Kher, and Sudhir Mishra came forward in support of Kanu Behl’s stand. Thanks to his relentless efforts, by November 15, *Agra* was playing in 9 cinemas across Mumbai. However, the battle for fair screen space is far from over.
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### Exclusive: Bollywood Hungama Speaks to Kanu Behl
In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama on the evening of November 14, Kanu Behl elaborated on the situation.
**When did you realize *Agra* was being denied shows?**
“I was part of the conversations in peripheral ways since I am the director. Initially, I didn’t know upfront. Two weeks ago, we got an initial list of about 100 screens, out of which only 9 were from PVR and Inox multiplexes. This was quite low. I pushed hard to secure better cinemas, but the process got delayed and eventually, on Thursday night, I was informed that shows were not available as all slots had been given to bigger films. I don’t want to name any films—I am not against any film. But what we heard was that we were simply not getting shows. That’s when I started speaking out.”
**Did you try reaching out to theatres directly?**
“No, I did not have direct communication. The information came through my team. Generally, the response was ‘a film like *Agra* doesn’t fit into our programming’, and ‘there’s a bigger film that everyone is going for’. But my point is, India has 5,000 to 6,000 screens. We are not asking for 1000, or even 500 screens. We only want 100 good screens — ones that are easily accessible and play at convenient times so that audiences can actually watch and sample the film. If they like it, word of mouth will help spread the film. So our request is reasonable and not exorbitant.”
**Did your social media posts help increase the number of shows?**
“Yes. The fact that *Agra* secured 9 shows in Mumbai on Saturday was due to the visibility created by those posts. Otherwise, the number might have decreased further. Still, notice that the big multiplex chains haven’t yet added shows for us. We are working to add as many screens as possible, but the monopolistic control that big chains hold is a significant problem. This issue affects not just me or *Agra*, but the entire independent film community.”
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### Kanu Behl: The Fight Continues
Kanu emphasizes that the fight for fair screening is ongoing:
“We are going to keep fighting. It is time to start and keep this conversation alive. This keeps happening repeatedly with independent films. For instance, *All We Imagine As Light* faced similar challenges, and so did *Homebound*, although to a different extent since Dharma Productions was involved there. Whether it’s *Sabar Bonda* or *Jugnuma*, independent films often face this neglect. Until now, independent filmmakers spoke individually, but now we are coming together to raise our voices collectively.”
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### On Releasing *Agra* Directly on OTT
Some netizens suggested that Kanu release *Agra* directly on OTT platforms. In response, Kanu revealed, “There’s a mafia even in that space.”
When asked if the OTT rights had been sold, Kanu clarified, “No, the rights have not been sold yet. But why should we skip theatres? Why should my film just be dumped into the black hole called OTT? Films like ours get dumped onto streaming platforms with no promotion, so the audience barely knows they exist. Has our cultural decay gone so deep that no one cares anymore? Is it always about making Rs. 100 crores, Rs. 1000 crores, or Rs. 5000 crores? When we are on our deathbeds, will we remember how much money we earned or the quality of lives we lived and the people that mattered? When will this shameless capitalist consumerist cycle end?”
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Kanu Behl’s courageous stand shines a light on the challenges faced by independent filmmakers in today’s multiplex-dominated film industry. The conversation he has sparked may be the first step in reclaiming space for diverse cinema in Indian theatres.
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**Also Read:**
[Kanu Behl urges audience to speak up as *Agra* struggles for shows amid ‘big blockbuster’ dominance](#)
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**Related Pages:**
– Agra Box Office Collection
– Bollywood News Live Updates
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/explosive-kanu-behl-multiplexes-denying-shows-agra-not-asking-1000-screens-asking-100-good-screenshas-rot-set-deep-no-one-just-cares/
