Vinod Kapri, the director of the acclaimed film Pyre, has publicly alleged that more than 75% of his film’s shows were cut within the first week of release. In an emotional video shared on social media, Kapri claimed that theatre owners and distributors told him they had received instructions that “no other film will be screened” apart from one big release. The filmmaker did not name the film directly, but his remarks came right after the release of the big-budget Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash.
The controversy has sparked a fresh conversation about how small, independent films struggle for screen space when a major studio release arrives. Kapri’s film, made on a modest budget of ₹2.5 crore with non-actors in the lead, had built strong word-of-mouth momentum before the sudden drop in screenings.
The Sudden Drop: From 400 Shows Back to Under 100
Pyre released on October 30, 2026, with a deliberately limited rollout of around 80 shows across India. Positive audience reactions helped the film expand rapidly. Within three to four days, the show count jumped to over 400 nationwide. In Delhi alone, daily shows climbed from 13 on opening day to 66 by the fifth day.
That momentum reversed sharply. Kapri stated that over the past two days, more than 75% of shows were removed, bringing the total back to fewer than 100 across India. Screenshots shared by the director on Instagram showed Delhi listings dropping from 66 shows a day to just 16.
“From the past two days, I can see that over 75% of our shows have been cut down. It has reduced to less than 100 shows. We are told by the theatre owners as well as distributors that they have been told that no other film will be screened.”
— Vinod Kapri, in his Instagram video
The filmmaker pointed out that the reduction happened even during the Chhoti Diwali holiday period, when audiences were actively looking for options.
What Theatre Owners Reportedly Told Kapri
Kapri said he spoke directly with distributors and theatre owners to understand why his film was losing screens so quickly. According to him, they told him they had no choice.
“When I spoke to distributors and theatre owners, we were told that they have been instructed that no other film will run, only one film will run. I do not understand this. You want your film to run, and it should run. But what do you gain by shutting down another film to run yours?”
— Vinod Kapri, in the same video
He questioned the fairness of the situation, especially because Pyre was still drawing audiences. The film had become a word-of-mouth success, with viewers sharing videos of emotional reactions inside theatres.
The Ramayana Factor
Kapri did not name Ramayana or its producer Namit Malhotra in his video. However, the timing of his complaint left little doubt about which release he was referring to. Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, arrived in theatres around the same window and dominated screen allocations across the country.
The big-budget epic’s release created a logjam for smaller films. Trade reports noted that Pyre was pulled from several screens as exhibitors prioritised the Ranbir Kapoor and Yash starrer. Kapri’s allegation adds a new dimension to the conversation: it is not just about audience demand, but about what he describes as “arm-twisting” behind the scenes.
“If you have invested a lot of money in making your film, we too have poured in all our heart and soul in making this film. We too deserve a fair chance. Please don’t do this injustice. This is just not done.”
— Vinod Kapri
He also raised a pointed question about the values associated with the Ramayana story itself.
“Is this really the win of truth over lies? Is this the victory of good over evil? What did you get by harming our small film?”
— Vinod Kapri
A Film That Took Eight Years to Reach Theatres
The screen loss hits harder because of Pyre’s long and difficult journey. Kapri first got the idea in 2018 after seeing a Facebook post about an 84-year-old man in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand. He visited the man and his wife, and their story became the emotional core of the film.
Pyre follows an elderly couple, Padam Singh and Tulsi, living in a remote Himalayan village that is slowly emptying as younger generations migrate to cities. The couple has been waiting 28 years for their son, Hariya, who went to Mumbai for work, to return. The film explores loneliness, ageing, companionship, and the quiet dignity of a life lived together in isolation.
The lead roles are played by Padam Singh (Kapri’s uncle, aged around 80) and Heera Devi (aged around 70), both first-time actors with no professional training. Kapri has said that Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah were initially approached, but the director eventually chose local villagers for authenticity.
The film took nearly eight years to complete and release. It spent two years without a distributor, and several OTT platforms rejected it. A producer friend eventually stepped in to fund a theatrical release. Before its India-wide rollout, Kapri organised screenings in three Himalayan towns without proper theatres, charging just ₹99 per ticket.
18 International Awards and Strong Word of Mouth
Pyre arrived in Indian cinemas with 18 international awards, including 15 Best Film honours. It won the Audience Award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia, the Audience Award at the London Indian Film Festival, Best Feature Film at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart, and top honours at the Birmingham Indian Film Festival and the DC South Asian Film Festival.
The film’s music brought together Academy Award-winning composer Mychael Danna, lyricist Gulzar, and classical vocalist Shruti Sadolikar. Its emotional impact on audiences became its biggest marketing tool. Videos of viewers leaving theatres in tears circulated widely on social media.
Box Office Performance in Week One
Despite the screen cuts, Pyre completed its first week with a total collection of ₹1.50 crore, according to trade data for October 30 to November 5, 2026. Reported collections stood at ₹1.18 crore, with another ₹0.32 crore unreported. The Delhi-U.P. circuit contributed the largest share at over ₹84 lakh, followed by East Punjab (₹13.86 lakh) and Bombay (₹12.81 lakh).
The film opened with just ₹8 lakh on day one before word of mouth pushed it to more screens. The week-one total is modest by mainstream standards, but for a non-star, non-studio film made on a ₹2.5 crore budget, it reflects the audience connection Kapri has been talking about.
Related Stories
The Bigger Question for Small Films
Kapri’s complaint is not just about his own film. It points to a structural issue in Indian cinema exhibition: when a major release arrives, smaller films can lose screens almost overnight, regardless of how well they are performing. For filmmakers without star power or deep pockets, word-of-mouth success can be reversed by a single scheduling decision.
“This film belongs to its audiences, and their love is our biggest strength.”
— Vinod Kapri, in a follow-up Instagram post
The director has appealed to exhibitors and distributors to give Pyre a fair chance. The film continues to screen in select cities, including Delhi, Dehradun, Noida, Gurgaon, and Mumbai, though with far fewer shows than a week ago. A Malayalam version of the film is scheduled for release in Kerala on November 6, with screenings also planned in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Vinod Kapri’s Pyre Sets October 23 Theatrical Release After 18 International Awards
For now, the director’s video has put a spotlight on how a small film’s survival can depend not just on how many people want to watch it, but on whether theatres are allowed to keep showing it.
Also Read: Pyre Review: Vinod Kapri Finds the Whole World in an Empty Himalayan Village
Stay connected with VvipTimes for more clear, fact-checked stories from the world of entertainment and cinema.
Leave a Reply