A coalition of 46 prominent Indian filmmakers has released a joint statement calling for fair theatrical access for independent films, pointing to the limited release of Cannes-selected director Kanu Behl’s feature film Agra as emblematic of the systemic challenges facing the industry.
The appeal follows the Nov. 14 theatrical release of “Agra,” which was relegated to limited and inconvenient screening times despite strong audience interest and extensive media coverage. The signatories include Payal Kapadia, Rima Das, Nandita Das, Ajitpal Singh, Alankrita Shrivastava, Megha Ramaswamy, Ram Reddy, Ruchi Narain, Shaunak Sen, Shonali Bose, Varun Grover and Vasan Bala.
“Latest update on the movie ‘Agra’. Small films are being denied screenings because they are so-called ‘blockbusters’ and because they don’t ‘fit’ into multiplex chain programs. Now it’s up to you, the audience! Speak up and tag the chains. Tell them you want to see the movie!,” Bale had posted on the eve of its release. “Please spread the word, otherwise this situation will continue forever and the space for anything other than mindless ‘infantilized cinema’ will disappear.”
The independent filmmakers’ statement notes that independent films across India routinely face barriers to theatrical release, highlighting that the problem extends beyond a single release. Key challenges identified include severely restricted screening slots, morning-only or weekday-only screening times, surprise cancellations, opaque allocation processes, and multiple prioritization of big-budget releases.
Filmmakers also highlighted new hurdles in the streaming space, with platforms increasingly making acquisition decisions based on box office performance, creating what has been described as an unfair cycle that limits the theatrical release of independent films while simultaneously seeking commercial results.
The Coalition outlined five specific demands. These include guaranteed accessible night screenings for all independent releases, transparent criteria for screen allocation, regular monthly or quarterly indie showcase programs, support from cultural institutions and alternative venues, and a streaming acquisition policy that is independent of theatrical performance metrics.
The statement contextualizes these demands within the international impact of Indian independent films over the past decade, noting that films in this field have premiered at major film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, Locarno, Rotterdam and Busan, expanding global recognition of Indian storytelling.
“We make this statement with respect, seriousness, and urgency,” the filmmakers wrote. “There are no adversaries. There is no blame. There is only a collective need for a healthier ecosystem. Indian independent cinema has shaped the way the world sees us, and now we have to shape the system so that our own audiences can see us too.”
Full list of signatories (in alphabetical order): Aamir Basheer, Aditya Kripalani, Aditya Vikram Sengupta, Ajitpal Singh, Akshay Indikar, Alankrita Shrivastava, Anuparna Roy, Arati Kadav, Asim. Ahluwalia, Bawdayan Mukherji, Bhaskar Hazarika, Chaitanya Tamhane, Devashish Makhija, Dibakar Das Roy, Diwa Shah, Dominic Megham Sangma, Gurvinder Singh, Haoban Pavan Kumar, Hardik Mehta, Honey Tre. Khan, Kanu Behl, Karan Gur, Karan Talwar, Karan Tejpal, Reena Yadav, Megha Ramaswami, Nandita Das, Payal Kapadia, Pradip Kulva, Prateekvats, Q (Quashik Mukherjee), Ram Reddy, Rahat Mahaji. Jang, Rima Das, Ronnie Sen, Ruchi Narain, Sumit Purohit, Safdar Rahman, Sarvnik Kaur, Shaunak Sen, Sharkukan Chavada, Shlok Sharma, Shonali Bose, Tanuja Chandra, Varun Grover, Vasan Bala.
