Anurag Kashyap angry with Indian distributors

Director Anurag Kashyap is angry with Indian distributors, saying that as they lack imagination. He said that his next production That Girl In Yellow Boots, featuring his wife Kalki Koechlin, has no takers just because it doesn't have big stars. He was forced to postpone its release to get a worldwide release.

“My film is releasing in 30 prints in America in non NRI theatres, and also in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Scandinavian countries, southern Europe. I have given my film to non Indian distributors," Mid Day quoted Anurag as saying.

“Indian distributors, who release films abroad, basically book theatres. They just buy world rights for a film and they think if the film doesn't have big stars, the audience abroad won't be interested in watching it. They only look at the Indian diaspora, the NRIs as their audience. They don't even know how to release a film for the non-NRI market. So instead of admitting that they are idiots and they don't know how to do it, they reject a film saying it doesn't have a market abroad," he said.

“They did the same thing with TGIYB and I was so angry. If a film has a star, even my chaiwala can distribute the film. Except Aamir Khan, no one in India has done intelligent marketing. So, I decided to hold the release of the film till I get the right distributors," he added.

However, distributors too have their own reason for not releasing films without big stars. “If we don't agree to pay Rs.25 for a something worth Rs.10, we are accused of lacking imagination. Please understand that distribution is bearing the biggest brunt of Bollywood flops. It takes us 5 years to recover the losses. If you want us to have imagination, trust our judgment and let us buy it at the price we feel right and take the share from the profit. Producers demand price, which is not economically viable to us. Everything that is good may not be good at the box office. There are buyers for any good film. I distributed Tere Bin Laden. You cannot expect us to have an imagination at the cost of an empty packet," said Ramesh Sippy of Raksha Entertainment.

Suniel Wadhwa of 52 Weeks Entertainment Inc. said, “Such kind of movies definitely has international market but you have to pick up correct distributors to reach those markets." Sanjay Ghai of Mukta Arts Ltd. Also said, “What do I say. I have not seen film. Whoever has rejected it can answer this. It's true that star system works in India, internationally. Shaitan was a good film but due to lack of stars it didn't work. If it's a good film then it will work and distributors will also understand. I wish him well."