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Over 200 additional shows of Pyre, Vinod Kapri’s independent Hindi drama, have been added across Indian theatres from November 13, following a controversy over the alleged removal of the film’s screenings after the release of Ramayana: Part 1 on November 5. Director Vinod Kapri confirmed the update on X, thanking PVR Cinemas and Cinepolis for restoring the film’s screen access.
On Thursday, November 12, Kapri took to social media to share the development, sharing his gratitude to audiences for helping bring the film back to more screens. He wrote, “#PYRE IS GETTING ITS SHOWS BACK! Over 200 shows of PYRE are being added from Friday , 13th November. A heartfelt thank you to our audiences for standing by this little independent film and making this possible. Your love, trust and support have brought us back to more screens.”
Thanking Cinepolis and PVR Cinemas, he added, “A big thank you to @IndiaCinepolis and @_PVRCinemas for supporting PYRE and giving more audiences an opportunity to experience Amma and Bubu’s story. This journey belongs to all of you. THANK YOU, INDIA!”
The matter came to light on November 7 when Kapri posted a video statement on X explaining that the Pyre had been losing added shows for two days. While the film opened to a limited release, the support from audiences across the country led to more shows being added. Kapri shared in his video that upon speaking with theatre owners and distributors, he found out that they had been instructed to screen only one film, which many assumed to be Ramayana: Part 1 (which released on November 5), and had removed other films from their schedules as a result.
“They have been told that no other film will run in theatres except one. I do not understand why you have to run your film by stopping other films. This is a small film with non-actors, and people are crying after seeing it,” he said in the video.
Pyre released in theatres on October 30. The film is set in the Kumaon Himalayas and follows Padam Singh and Tulsi, an ageing couple among the last people remaining in their remote village. Neither of the film’s leads—Padam Singh and Heera Devi—had appeared on camera before the film.
The film has received international awards across festivals in Washington D.C., Chicago, Canada, Spain, Boston, Stuttgart, London, Birmingham, and more.