Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has expressed his annoyance regarding the editing of his 1994 movie Bandit Queen for streaming platforms, claiming it has been altered to the point of being unrecognizable. He pointed out that the changes were made without his approval. He also questioned whether a renowned director like Christopher Nolan would face similar treatment with his films.

Shekhar Kapur is really upset about the edits made for OTT platforms

It all kicked off when Shekhar hopped on X, previously known as Twitter, to give a shoutout to the Netflix miniseries Adolescence. He said, “I’m not the first to mention this, but #Adolescence from #Netflix really changes the game for what a great series can do. It breaks away from the usual three-act structure and dives deep into the characters' minds, prompting some serious self-reflection. It’s storytelling on another level. You’ve got to check it out.”

In response, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra pointed out that such daring storytelling wouldn’t fly in India. He commented, “No one would allow us to create something like that. It should be done as an independent film—something that wanders, pauses, digs deep, and follows where the scent leads us.”

Right now, Shekhar is feeling let down about how his 1994 film Bandit Queen was edited. He tweeted, “I’m curious, @IAmSudhirMishra, would OTT platforms allow me to create #BanditQueen like I did back in the day? The version on #AmazonPrime looks nothing like my original film. It’s been chopped up so much that it’s barely recognizable. Yet, my name is still on it as the Director, and nobody consulted me! Are we considered less important than Western Directors? Would they dare to edit a Chris Nolan film without his consent?”

Kunal Kohli, the creator of Hum Tum, believes that Shekhar has the freedom to explore different stories and projects, especially since he’s found success in Hollywood. He expressed his disapproval of the unauthorized editing of his film, stating, “The Shekhar Kapur from before Bandit Queen wouldn’t have been allowed by any streaming service to create Bandit Queen in his own style. It’s shocking to see your film cut or altered without your consent.”

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta also weighed in, saying, “That’s exactly the point I’ve been trying to make, @shekharkapur. Are we aiming to promote great storytelling or just churning out mediocre content? Let’s not leave the good narratives, innovative storytelling, subtle moments, slow builds, bold experiments, and budgets to the more talented minds from the West. It feels like we’re going back to the days of colonization.”

Here's the scoop on the movie

Shekhar Kapur's 1994 film, inspired by the real-life bandit Phoolan Devi, depicted the harsh realities of Chambal dacoits. The movie was recognized as the Best Hindi Film, and Seema Biswas earned a National Award for her performance. "Bandit Queen" debuted in the Directors’ Fortnight at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and was showcased at several other festivals too. It also served as India’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 67th Academy Awards, although it ultimately did not receive a nomination.

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