The theatrical release of Pippa, starring Ishaan Khatter, has been postponed for three months. On December 2, 2022, the movie was scheduled for release. It was previously rumoured that the movie will go direct-to-digital and is anticipating the OTT release. But, in defiance of the accusations, the film’s creators have issued a statement refuting the claims of an OTT release.
The creators released a statement stating, “This is in regard to an article that appeared in a newspaper publication yesterday with the headline “PIPPED FOR AN OTT RELEASE,” which made some completely unsupported claims about alleged conflicts between the Pippa movie’s producers and multiplex operators, causing Pippa to allegedly choose an OTT release. No multiplex operator or the producers were contacted for comment before the publication of this report.”
The president of the Multiplex Association of India (MAI), Kamal Gianchandani, Siddharth Roy Kapur, and Ronnie Screwvala of PVR INOX declares that “RSVP and Roy Kapur Films have no current difficulties with multiplex operators. Rumours and reports that state the opposite are false and untrue. We’re all committed to working together to deliver top-notch content to theatregoers across India. The release date for Pippa’s adaptation for the big screen will shortly be formally announced.”
Ishaan Khatter in Pippa:
According to a report in Mid-Day, “Ronnie Screwvala’s legal struggle with four major multiplex chains for anti-competitive collusion, with respect to the undue imposition of Virtual Print Fee (VPF)” was the reason the release of the OTT was supposedly scheduled.”
In a petition to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Ronnie Screwvala, who is co-producing the film with Siddharth Roy Kapur, is said to have complained: Against multiplexes forcing filmmakers and distributors to pay Rs 20,000 for every movie shown as VPF, calling it a harsh, discriminatory fee that multiplex chains are imposing forcibly. The CCI had observed that he couldn’t back up his assertions at the time, and the producer’s discussions with the multiplex chains weren’t well accepted at the time. The project’s designers, though, are thrilled with how it turned out and are preparing to publish it digitally.
Based on ‘The Burning Chaffees’ written by Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta and scored by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, Pippa is a heroic tank battle film that underscores the bravery of Brigadier Mehta, a veteran of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron, who, along with his siblings, fought on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which led to the liberation of India’s neighbour Bangladesh. The amphibious combat tank, affectionately referred to as “Pippa,” which floats on water like an empty ghee da dabba, serves as the focal point of the movie.
Pippa is a movie directed by RSVP and Roy Kapur Productions, starring Ishaan Khatter, Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli, and Soni Razdan. Click here to get more updates on the upcoming Bollywood movies.
