Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has alleged that the streaming version of his iconic 1994 film Bandit Queen has been altered without his consent, making it “unrecognisable.” Kapur, known for movies like Masoom, Mr India, and the Elizabeth series, expressed his disappointment on social media, questioning whether such a move would be made against a Western director like Christopher Nolan.
“The Bandit Queen on #AmazonPrime is unrecognisable from my film. Someone has cut it beyond recognition. And yet it carries my name as Director. And no one asked me! Are we lesser beings than Western Directors? Would they have the guts to cut a Chris Nolan film without his permission?” Kapur wrote on X.
Bandit Queen, which chronicles the life of Phoolan Devi the infamous dacoit-turned-politician received critical acclaim and premiered in the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight section of the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. Seema Biswas starred in the titular role, delivering a powerful performance.
Kapur’s comments have reignited discussions about creative control and the ethics of altering films without directorial consent. The controversy arose shortly after Kapur praised the Netflix mini-series Adolescence for its unconventional storytelling. “Its defies the regular 3 act structure of cause and effect and plunges you deeply into the minds of the characters,” he wrote, highlighting the show’s creative brilliance.
Amazon Prime Video has yet to respond to Kapur’s claims. The incident raises important questions about filmmaker rights in the streaming era.
