YRF changes policy for Dibakar’s film

Unlike other Bollywood films, Yash Raj Films never organises a press show before the release date. But the company seems to have modified the policy for its latest film Detective Byomkesh Bakshy . For the first time, YRF held a screening for the press on Thursday, a day before the theatrical release. YRF’s head honcho Aditya Chopra took the decision on Wednesday, following an alleged leak of the film’s climax scene on YouTube.

However, director Dibakar Banerjee said that the leak has nothing to do with the decision. Says Dibakar, “When I heard that someone had shot something during our shoot and put it up on YouTube, I panicked. Then I saw the leaked footage and I was cool. There is nothing to be alarmed about. My climax is a lot more than just a whodunit. I’d like to grant my cinema with more depth than what can be revealed in a secretly shot footage from a mobile phone.”

Dibakar is dismayed by the trend of film spoilers on the Internet. “Who knows who shot this footage and with what motive! But yes, we have suddenly decided to show the film to the press on the evening before the release. It is a first for Yash Raj, I believe. It shows Adi’s faith in the film. Byomkesh couldn’t have been made without Adi’s vision and determination. Think about it. Byomkesh is an iconic detective figure that Bengalis revere and the country grew up reading. To put Byomkesh on screen requires a great deal of hindsight and acumen. Adi was with me on this right through.”

Dibakar believes it is a do- ordie film for him. “It has the scale of a YRF film, but it doesn’t have item songs. It’s a very complicated situation to be in.” — SKJ