Anurag Kashyap is undoubtedly a filmmaker who does not engage in euphemisms. Throughout his career, he has consistently expressed his opinions candidly, without any embellishments. He has contributed significantly to Indian cinema, delivering some of the most intricate films that audiences have cherished repeatedly. Nevertheless, his most remarkable accomplishment remains Gangs of Wasseypur Parts One and Two. Originally conceived as a single film, the two instalments emerged so effectively that they became emblematic of a new era in Indian cinema, garnering international acclaim. However, the path to bringing these films to the audience was far from smooth. Anurag has now disclosed that the film, set in North India, faced challenges in its release across various regions of North India.

Anurag Kashyap on Gangs of Wasseypur’s North India Release

Anurag Kashyap has recently expressed his frustration regarding the oversight of the Hindi audience by filmmakers, labelling their lack of awareness as 'dumb.' In a recent interview, he highlighted how this negligence has allowed South Indian cinema to thrive and capture significant market share. Kashyap specifically referenced the limited release of his acclaimed films, Gangs of Wasseypur and Mukkabaaz, which were primarily shown only in Delhi, failing to reach broader audiences in North India. His comments were prompted by producer Naga Vamsi's remarks on how South Indian cinema is influencing Bollywood's strategies.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kashyap lamented the distribution choices made during the pandemic, stating, “Our audience was ignored collectively. For instance, I discovered that my two films – Gangs of Wasseypur and Mukkabaaz – which now enjoy a dedicated following in North India, were not released there. During a distribution meeting, I learned that the studio had concluded my primary audience was limited to Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad. This illustrates their lack of understanding.”

Anurag Kashyap recounted an incident in which a theatre owner from Bihar implored Eros Productions to screen Gangs of Wasseypur in his cinemas. However, the request was declined due to the financial implications of producing an additional Digital Cinema Package (DCP), as the producers believed that Bihar did not represent a market justifying such an investment. These surprising assertions are quite astonishing, especially considering that the Gangs of Wasseypur series and Mukkabaaz have gained immense popularity as beloved Indian films globally.

Anurag Kashyap on South Films Taking Over

In the same discussion, Anurag Kashyap addressed the significant impact South Indian films have had on the North Indian market, noting that even some dubbed versions are outperforming locally produced films. He remarked, “We produce Hindi films, yet we have overlooked the Hindi-speaking audience. This opportunity was seized by an individual who established the YouTube channel Goldmines, where he began acquiring South Indian films at low costs, dubbing them, and targeting the Hindi audience. This audience has grown substantially, as evidenced by the release of the trailer for Pushpa 2 in Patna,” Kashyap explained.

Both Gangs of Wasseypur and Mukkabaaz are now streaming on JioCinema in India, and you can watch them with your OTTplay Premium subscription too. Stay tuned to Mobile Masala for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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