Vinod Kapri claims theatres were told to drop Pyre shows for one big film, screens cut by 75%
Filmmaker Vinod Kapri says Pyre lost around 75% of its shows after theatres were allegedly told to prioritise one film. Here’s what he said and how the box office stands
PTC Web Desk: Filmmaker Vinod Kapri has voiced his frustration over what he describes as a sudden drop in screenings for his film Pyre. According to him, theatre owners and distributors were asked to give priority to one particular title. He did not mention the film by name, but the timing suggests he was referring to the release of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend.
In a video posted on X, Kapri explained that Pyre opened modestly, with roughly 80 shows on 80 screens. Once audiences started responding well, the numbers grew and within three to four days the film was running more than 400 shows.
That momentum, he says, did not last. Over the past two days, he claimed, at least 75 per cent of those shows were pulled, leaving the film with fewer than 100 screens across the country.
Kapri said his team spoke to several theatre owners and distributors and the message was the same: they had been told to screen one specific film, even if it meant leaving other screens empty. In his words, they had been instructed to play only that one film in their theatres.
A familiar struggle for smaller films
His post has brought fresh attention to a long-running problem. Smaller films often find it hard to hold on to screens when a big-budget release arrives, even when word of mouth is working in their favour.
Where the numbers stand
Going by trade website Sacnilk, Pyre has collected Rs 2.23 crore gross in India so far.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, opened on November 5 and is still playing strongly. It reportedly earned Rs 120 crore gross in India on Monday alone, and its worldwide gross after five days stands at Rs 663.90 crore.