Vinod Kapri Claims Pyre Lost 75 Percent of Its Shows in the First Week Due to a Major Release
National Award-winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri expressed deep dismay on social media after his modest-budget Hindi film Pyre suffered a drastic reduction in theatre screenings within its opening week.
Published 7 November 2026
Sudden Reduction in Screenings
National Award-winning director Vinod Kapri took to social media to voice his frustration regarding the theatrical run of his latest Hindi movie. He stated that within the first week of release, seventy-five percent of the screenings for his project had been abruptly cut. Exhibitors and distributors were reportedly instructed to restrict playtimes to a single, dominant blockbuster.
The filmmaker shared his grievances through a video statement, explaining that the situation severely hindered independent cinema. He questioned the fairness of pushing out smaller features to accommodate high-budget studio titles.
The Journey of Pyre in Theaters
Pyre initially debuted across India on October 30 with a very modest footprint of approximately eighty screens. However, positive word of mouth and strong audience appreciation caused that number to expand to four hundred screens across the country.
Despite this momentum and the emotional response from viewers who witnessed the non-actor cast on screen, the screening count plummeted back down to under one hundred shows within the span of forty-eight hours.
Plot and Artistic Vision
The narrative of Pyre centers on an elderly couple living in a quiet Himalayan village. As the surrounding environment grows increasingly still, the pair continues to wait for the return of their children.
Crafted on a tiny budget and utilizing non-professional actors, the production aimed for an authentic, soulful storytelling experience. The director emphasized that the team poured their hearts into the creation, making the sudden loss of screens particularly painful.
Director Appeals to Exhibitors
In his public address, Vinod Kapri directly addressed theatre owners and distributors, urging them to reconsider their scheduling decisions. He argued that smaller projects deserve a fair platform just as much as financially heavyweight productions do.
He further questioned the ethics of forcing out independent features, noting that while big studios invest substantial monetary capital, independent creators invest their souls into bringing distinct narratives to the public.
The Context of Major Box Office Competition
Although the filmmaker did not explicitly name any other title in his video address, the timeframe coincided with the arrival of a massive industry event. Nitesh Tiwari's multi-part epic adaptation entered the box office space on November 5.
That high-profile production, backed by major names and boasting an extensive cast, quickly crossed one hundred fifty-five crore rupees in box office collections during its opening days, dominating screens nationwide.
About the Blockbuster Release
The competing cinematic event in question is a two-part adaptation of the ancient Hindu epic produced by Prime Focus Studios. The ambitious project draws from Valmiki's literary work, tracing the journey of Lord Rama and his conflict against the asura king Ravana.
The prominent cast features Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role alongside Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol, supported by numerous other established industry actors including Ravi Dubey, Anupam Kher, and Lara Dutta.
News Overview
National Award-winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri revealed that his small-budget Hindi film Pyre lost seventy-five percent of its shows in its first week after theatre owners were allegedly told to run only one major film. The director expressed disappointment over the unfair treatment of his Himalayan-set drama, which originally expanded from eighty to four00 screens before being crowded out by Nitesh Tiwari's high-profile epic Ramayana.
Key facts
- Vinod Kapri directed Pyre.
- Pyre released in theatres on October 30.
- Pyre initially released on around 80 screens before expanding to 400 screens.
- 75 percent of Pyre shows were cut within the first week.
- Ramayana released on November 5, 2026.
- Ramayana crossed ₹ 155 crore so far.