Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has expressed his dismay at streaming platform Amazon Prime Video for editing Bandit Queen (1994) without his permission, addressing the hurdles for freedom of expression even on OTT.

He wrote on X on Tuesday, “I wonder if OTT platforms would let me make #BanditQueen the way I made it years ago. The Bandit Queen on #AmazonPrime is unrecognizable 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? (sic)”

The biopic portrayed the life of Phoolan Devi, dreaded dacoit-turned-Member of Parliament, and earned Shekhar global acclaim. It also led to his Hollywood directorial debut with the Oscar-nominated Elizabeth (1998).

The issue began when the 79-year-old appreciated the British mini series Adolescence for “its next level story telling”, to which filmmaker Sudhir Mishra replied, “Nobody will let us do something like that. One should do it as an independent film.” Shekhar then pointed out the edits in his film.

“Today’s @shekharkapur with your Hollywood successes would be allowed to make it. But the Shekhar Kapur before Bandit Queen would definitely not be allowed by any OTT to make Bandit Queen the way he wants to. Cutting/Hacking your film without your permission is shocking to say the least. (sic),” wrote Kunal.

Hansal commented, “That is the point I’ve been trying to make @shekharkapur. Are we here to foster superior storytelling or to produce cattle-feed ? Leave the good stories, the innovative storytelling, the silences, the slow burn, the experiments, the audacity, the budgets to the superior minds from the west. Welcome back to the days of colonization. (sic)”