Mumbai, Oct 20: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has expressed concern over the growing dominance of patriotic and devotional films in Bollywood, arguing that the industry’s current production priorities are making it increasingly difficult for stories outside these categories to find financial backing and reach cinema audiences.
Kashyap’s remarks come at a time when films built around national pride, religious themes and large-scale cultural narratives have attracted considerable attention in the Indian film industry. While these subjects continue to draw audiences and encourage producers to invest in similar projects, the filmmaker believes that an excessive concentration on a few genres could restrict the range of stories available to moviegoers.
His concerns are closely connected to his decision to support Little Thomas, an upcoming slice-of-life children’s film directed by Kaushal Oza. Featuring Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal, the movie is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 23.
Kashyap has described his involvement in the project as a way to enable a different kind of filmmaking at a time when securing support for unconventional stories has become challenging. His position highlights an ongoing debate about the balance between commercially successful productions and films that explore everyday experiences, family relationships and childhood.
Concerns over a limited range of films
According to Kashyap, patriotic and devotional subjects have gained a strong position in Bollywood’s current production environment. The success of films such as Dhurandhar and Hanuman Ansh has encouraged interest in comparable projects, contributing to a climate in which other genres may struggle to secure the same level of attention.
The filmmaker’s concern is not simply about the popularity of these categories. Rather, it is about whether the industry’s emphasis on familiar commercial formulas leaves sufficient room for stories that do not fit prevailing market expectations.
Children’s cinema is one area where this challenge becomes particularly visible. Such films often depend on distinctive characters, imaginative storytelling and themes that connect with younger viewers and their families. However, producers may be cautious about financing them if they are uncertain about theatrical returns and audience reach.
A film centred on children’s experiences can also appeal to adults through its treatment of family life, relationships and social change. Yet these qualities do not always translate into the large-scale promotional campaigns or production budgets associated with mainstream commercial releases.
Kashyap’s backing of Little Thomas therefore represents an attempt to support a project whose value lies in offering audiences a different cinematic experience.
Why Little Thomas matters
Directed by Kaushal Oza, Little Thomas stars Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal and is scheduled for theatrical release on October 23. Its slice-of-life approach distinguishes it from the action-driven and mythology-based productions that have attracted significant attention in the current Bollywood landscape.
The film’s release also brings attention to the practical difficulties faced by projects that do not belong to established commercial categories. Beyond securing financing, filmmakers must find ways to attract distributors, obtain sufficient screen space and persuade audiences to consider a story without the immediate appeal of a major franchise or a star-led spectacle.
Backing from an established filmmaker can help such productions gain visibility, although it cannot guarantee box-office success. Independent-minded projects still need effective marketing, favourable audience responses and access to theatres to build momentum.
For Kashyap, supporting the film is part of a broader effort to create opportunities for storytelling that might otherwise struggle to move forward. His position underscores the role that producers and established industry figures can play in helping emerging directors and less conventional projects reach the market.
The commercial pressures facing filmmakers
Bollywood operates in a competitive environment where producers must weigh creative ambitions against financial risk. Large productions often require substantial investments in actors, visual effects, music, promotion and distribution. Their commercial performance can influence the types of projects studios choose to finance next.
When a particular genre produces successful results, investors may become more willing to approve similar films. This can create a cycle in which established formulas receive repeated opportunities, while unfamiliar concepts face greater scrutiny.
The same pattern can affect smaller productions even when their budgets are comparatively modest. A project may have a strong script and talented cast but still struggle to secure funding if its commercial potential is difficult to predict.
Children’s films face an additional challenge because their potential audience may be narrower than that of major action or family-entertainment releases, depending on the subject and marketing strategy. Their success often depends on whether parents consider the content suitable and whether the film can generate interest among children beyond its opening weekend.
For filmmakers seeking to explore new themes, the challenge is to demonstrate that creative variety can coexist with commercial discipline. Supporters of diverse cinema argue that a healthy industry needs both large-scale productions capable of attracting broad audiences and smaller films that explore unfamiliar perspectives.
A wider debate about creative freedom
Kashyap’s comments reflect a longstanding discussion within Indian cinema about the relationship between audience demand, producer confidence and artistic freedom.
Commercial success can encourage investment and expand opportunities for filmmakers. At the same time, a market dominated by a narrow range of subjects risks reducing the number of stories that receive meaningful distribution.
The issue is particularly relevant for directors working with children’s narratives, intimate dramas, experimental formats and regional or culturally specific experiences. Such films may require a different approach to promotion and audience development rather than simply competing with big-budget productions on the same terms.
Digital platforms have created additional avenues for some smaller films, but theatrical visibility remains important for projects intended to reach cinema audiences. A theatrical release can also shape public discussion and help a film establish a wider cultural presence.
Ultimately, the performance of Little Thomas may contribute to the conversation about the prospects for unconventional stories in mainstream cinemas. Its release offers an opportunity to assess whether audiences are willing to support a film that takes a different route from the industry’s more prominent commercial trends.
Kashyap’s intervention places the emphasis on the need for greater variety rather than on rejecting any particular genre. His argument is that patriotic, devotional and other mainstream productions can coexist with children’s films and slice-of-life dramas, allowing filmmakers to address a wider range of experiences.
As Little Thomas prepares for its October 23 release, the broader question remains whether Bollywood can create a more balanced production environment in which creative ambition and commercial considerations receive room to develop together.