A few days ago, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur alleged that a corrupted version of his much-acclaimed film Bandit Queen has been streaming on Prime Video while discussing the merits of the new Netflix series Adolescence on the social media platform 'X'.
Kapur wrote that someone butchered his film "beyond recognition" without asking him and questioned whether they do the same thing to the works of Western filmmakers.
On Monday, Prime Video issued a statement clarifying that they did not make any cuts to the film and that the print they received came from its distributor, NH Studioz.
"Prime Video has not made any edits to the version of the film Bandit Queen currently streaming on the service. The version available on Prime Video is the version provided by the film's distributor, NH Studioz," said a spokesperson for the streamer.
An account of the dark and traumatic events that shaped the life of dacoit-turned-Member of Parliament Phoolan Devi, the film was much celebrated at the time of its release by filmmakers and serious cineastes, especially the daring performance of lead actress Seema Biswas.
Kapur had shared that the film was tough to make and it was a result of "days/nights spent arguing and fighting over each edit and each cut."
The versatile filmmaker behind films such as Mr. India and Elizabeth recalled that Bandit Queen was made under trying circumstances, in a "punishing 50-degree heat" and the makers stayed up all night discussing the "nuance of each scene, each moment, of the film, before filming it."
