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Shekhar Kapur, known for directing the iconic 1994 film Bandit Queen, has sparked a recent debate about OTT laws. The filmmaker expressed disappointment over the OTT version of the film, stating that it had been cut beyond permission. He criticised the changes, pointing out that the edits were made without his consent.
Shekhar Kapur blasted at OTT platform for cutting his film scenes without permission
Bandit Queen is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Videos. It all started when Shekhar took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the Netflix miniseries Adolescence. He wrote, “I’m not the first one to say this but #Adolescence from #Netflix redefines what truly great series can achieve. It defies the regular 3 act structure of cause and effect and plunges you deeply into the minds of the characters and allows you to reflect upon yourself ..It’s next level story telling. Watch it.”
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra responded, stating that such daring storytelling would not be allowed in India. He wrote, “Nobody will let us do something like that. One should do it as an independent film. Something of our own which is wanders, then stops, digs and goes where the smell takes us.”
Shekhar then voiced his frustration about the editing of his 1994 film Bandit Queen. He said, “I wonder @IAmSudhirMishra if OTT platforms would let me make #BanditQueen the way I made it years ago. The Bandit Queen on #AmazonPrime is unrecognisable from my film. Someone has cut it beyond recognition. And yet it carries my name as Director. And no one asked me! Are we lesser beings than Western Directors? Would they have the guts to cut a Christopher Nolan film without his permission?”
Hansal Mehta to Kunal Kohli, filmmakers debate over OTT and Bandit Queen permission row
Hum Tum maker Kunal Kohli feels Shekhar can experiment with stories and projects as he has succeeded in Hollywood. He criticised the unauthorised editing of his film, stating, “But the Shekhar Kapur before Bandit Queen would definitely not be allowed by any OTT to make Bandit Queen the way he wants to. Cutting / Hacking your film without your permission is shocking, to say the least.”
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta also shared his thoughts, writing, “That is the point I’ve been trying to make @shekharkapur. Are we here to foster superior storytelling or to produce cattle-feed? Leave the good stories, the innovative storytelling, the silences, the slow burn, the experiments, the audacity, the budgets to the superior minds from the west. Welcome back to the days of colonisation.”
Shekhar Kapur’s 1994 film, based on the life of real-life bandit Phoolan Devi, portrayed the harsh realities faced by Chambal dacoits. The film won the National Award for Best Hindi Film, while Seema Biswas received a National Award for her powerful performance.
