A coalition of 46 prominent Indian independent filmmakers has issued a joint statement demanding equitable theatrical opportunities for indie cinema, citing the restricted Indian release of Kanu Behl‘s Cannes-selected feature “Agra” as emblematic of systemic challenges facing the sector.
The appeal follows the Nov. 14 theatrical bow of “Agra,” which was relegated to limited and inconvenient showtimes despite strong audience interest and extensive media coverage. Signatories include Payal Kapadia, Rima Das, Nandita Das, Ajitpal Singh, Alankrita Shrivastava, Megha Ramaswamy, Raam Reddy, Ruchi Narain, Shaunak Sen, Shonali Bose, Varun Grover and Vasan Bala.
“Update on ‘Agra’, the film: We’re being denied shows because of the so called ‘big blockbusters’ and because small films ‘don’t fit into’ multiplex chain programming. It’s up to you the audience now! Speak up and tag the chains. Say that you want to see the film!,” Behl had posted on the eve of the release. “Spread the word. Or this will just go on and on. And the space for anything else other than mindless ‘infantilised cinema’ will disappear.”
The indie filmmakers’ statement emphasizes that the issue extends beyond a single release, noting that independent features across India routinely face barriers to theatrical exhibition. Key challenges identified include severely restricted screening slots, morning-only or weekday-exclusive showtimes, abrupt cancellations, opaque allocation processes and multiplex prioritization of big-budget releases.
The filmmakers also highlighted an emerging obstacle in the streaming sector, where platforms increasingly base acquisition decisions on box office performance, creating what they describe as an inequitable cycle that limits indie films’ theatrical exposure while simultaneously demanding commercial results.
The coalition outlined five specific requests: guaranteed accessible evening screenings for every independent release, transparent criteria for screen allocation, regular monthly or quarterly indie showcase programming, support from cultural institutions and alternative venues, and streaming acquisition policies independent of theatrical performance metrics.
The statement contextualizes these demands within Indian independent cinema’s international impact over the past decade, noting that films from the sector have premiered at major festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, Locarno, Rotterdam and Busan, expanding global perceptions of Indian storytelling.
“We offer this statement with respect, seriousness and urgency,” the filmmakers wrote. “No antagonist. No blame. Only the collective need for a healthier ecosystem. Indian independent cinema has shaped how the world sees us. Now, we must shape a system where our own audiences can see us too.”
The complete list of signatories in alphabetical order: Aamir Bashir, Aditya Kripalani, Aditya Vikram Sengupta, Ajitpal Singh, Akshay Indikar, Alankrita Shrivastava, Anuparna Roy, Arati Kadav, Ashim Ahluwalia, Bauddhayan Mukherji, Bhaskar Hazarika, Chaitanya Tamhane, Devashish Makhija, Dibakar Das Roy, Diwa Shah, Dominic Megam Sangma, Gurvinder Singh, Haobam Paban Kumar, Hardik Mehta, Honey Trehan, Kanu Behl, Karan Gour, Karan Talwar, Karan Tejpal, Leena Yadav, Megha Ramaswamy, Nandita Das, Payal Kapadia, Pradip Kurbah, Prateek Vats, Q (Quashik Mukherjee), Raam Reddy, Rahat Mahajan, Rima Das, Ronny Sen, Ruchi Narain, Sumit Purohit, Safdar Rahman, Sarvnik Kaur, Shaunak Sen, Sharukhkhan Chavada, Shlok Sharma, Shonali Bose, Tanuja Chandra, Varun Grover and Vasan Bala.
