Kanu Behl Urges Audience to Speak Up as Agra Struggles for Screens Amid ‘Big Blockbuster’ Dominance

Ziya Khan 4 weeks agoLast Updated: November 14, 2025

Filmmaker Kanu Behl, whose critically discussed film Agra is finally releasing in theatres on November 14, has expressed his disappointment over the film being denied adequate showtimes in multiplexes. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Titli director wrote, “Update on Agra, the film: We’re being denied shows because of the so-called ‘big blockbusters’ and because small films ‘don’t fit into’ multiplex chain programming. It’s up to you, the audience now! Speak up and tag the chains. Say that you want to see the film!”

In a follow-up post, Behl highlighted his concern about the shrinking space for unconventional cinema, tweeting, “Spread the word. Or this will just go on and on. And the space for anything else other than mindless ‘infantilised cinema’ will disappear.”

Update on ‘Agra’, the film: We’re being denied shows because of the so called ‘big blockbusters’ and because small films ‘don’t fit into’ multiplex chain programming. It’s up to you the audience now! Speak up and tag the chains. Say that you want to see the film!

— Kanu Behl (@KanuBehl) November 13, 2025

When a user suggested screening smaller films in niche theatres, Behl emphasized that the issue was much bigger. “This is not about trying to find some tiny space, somewhere anymore. This is about reclaiming what we need. We HAVE to speak up. A film like this should get fair visibility,” he responded.

Are there any niche theatres that show small films, away from all the multiplex jhamela?

— Rahul (@notself) November 13, 2025

Earlier, Bollywood Hungama reported that Agra underwent cuts by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before securing an ‘A’ certificate. The board reportedly asked the filmmakers to replace a frontal nudity scene and remove two sexually explicit visuals, along with substituting certain obscene words. After these changes, the film was cleared on May 17, 2024, with a runtime of 115 minutes.

Agra marks the debut of Mohit Agarwal and stars Rahul Roy, Priyanka Bose, Ruhani Sharma, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha, and Aanchal Goswami in prominent roles. The film explores the story of a sexually repressed young man navigating complex family dynamics in a cramped home in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.