While 'Monkey Man' release faces delay in India, piracy abounds
The highly anticipated film, Monkey Man, starring Dev Patel, has had its Indian release postponed due to non-clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite this delay, it was released in most global markets on April 5 and became available for rent on Amazon Prime Video internationally earlier this week. This situation has unfortunately resulted in a surge of high-quality pirated versions of the film online, despite efforts by Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures to remove such links.
Several high-profile influencers have endorsed the film
In a surprising development, a renowned critic admitted to watching Monkey Man neither in theaters nor via official streaming platforms, reported Bollywood Hungama. Several high-profile influencers have also endorsed the film, subtly suggesting it should be viewed "you know where," implying unofficial sources. An anonymous source from the exhibition sector told BH that it's clear these individuals watched it illegally. "There's a lot of curiosity surrounding the film in India, especially with reports that it is very controversial."
Exhibitors criticized the studio's planning
An exhibitor criticized the studio's planning, telling BH, "Firstly, they announced April 19 as the release date when it released worldwide on April 5. On top of that, they knew that the film has controversial content. They should have got the censor done in advance." "I doubt Monkey Man will now get the kind of footfalls it might have possibly got in April." Akshaye Rathi, a film exhibitor and distributor, expressed his displeasure with those promoting piracy.
