Adding to makers' woes, Padmaavat leaked online on release day
The same day Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial Padmaavat released after a lengthy battle, admins of a Facebook page decided to leak the whole movie online. India Today reports there were over 15,000 shares of the post on 'Jaaton Ka Adda,' which seems to have gone live from inside a theater. The post has been deleted now, but the admins promised to upload it again.
Piracy costs Indian film industry Rs. 18,000cr yearly
Piracy deals a massive blow to the Indian film industry. According to NewsMinute, filmmakers earn $2bn from legitimate sources, but piracy earns 35% more- $2.7bn. It's not only money though; Uday Singh, Motion Picture Distributors' Association MD, says piracy also costs the industry over 60,000 jobs a year. Recent big-budget movies like 'Dilwale,' 'Kabali,' 'Great Grand Masti' and 'Udta Punjab' have all been leaked.
Protests in different cities mar Padmaavat's release
Meanwhile, protests over Padmaavat continued in several places including Delhi, Rajasthan, UP and Haryana. In Gurgaon, schools were forced to shut down after a school bus was vandalized. In Varanasi, several people tried to immolate themselves but were detained. In Rishikesh, protesters clashed with police. The SC will hear contempt cases against MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana for failing to ensure law and order.
After heavy battles, Padmaavat opened to mixed reviews
Padmaavat, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, hit screens across India today after months of violent protests. Despite the hype, its reception hasn't been phenomenal, with audiences mostly giving it mixed reviews. But praise for Singh has been unanimous. The movie was initially scheduled for a December 1 release, but problems with certification made the makers postpone it.
