Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s first directorial venture, Paanch, which has remained unreleased for over two decades, is finally set to hit the big screen next year. Producer Tutu Sharma confirmed the news in a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, sparking excitement among Kashyap’s fans.
“Paanch is coming next year. I plan to release it in cinemas within six months,” said Sharma. He revealed that while the negatives of the film had slightly deteriorated over time, restoration work is already underway. “As soon as it’s ready, we’ll release Paanch.”
The film, loosely inspired by the 1976-77 Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders in Pune, faced significant hurdles with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to its sensitive subject, violent content, and strong language. Sharma explained that although the issues with the CBFC were resolved, subsequent challenges delayed the release.
With a resurgence in the trend of re-releasing shelved or classic films, Sharma sees great potential for Paanch. “The trend of re-runs is here now. One can imagine the potential of Paanch. Times are such that these films have an audience now,” he said.
The announcement follows the recent release of Anees Bazmee’s long-delayed Naam, starring Ajay Devgn, which hit cinemas on November 22 after being shelved since 2008. The renewed interest in older films has reignited hope for projects like Paanch to find their audience.
About Paanch
Paanch marked Kashyap’s transition from writer to director. Before this, he had earned acclaim for penning films like Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya (1998), Shool (1999), and Kaun (1999). Despite the setbacks surrounding Paanch, Kashyap debuted as a director with Black Friday in 2004, a critically acclaimed crime thriller based on the 1993 Bombay bombings.
Paanch stars Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Vijay Maurya, and Tejaswini Kolhapure in pivotal roles. Menon, who later collaborated with Kashyap on Black Friday, headlines this gritty tale based on real-life events.
Meanwhile, Kashyap’s most recent directorial, Kennedy, is also awaiting its theatrical release, adding to the anticipation for his upcoming projects. With Paanch set to reach audiences after a prolonged wait, the release is expected to be a significant moment for Kashyap and his admirers alike.