Dulquer Salmaan’s September 3 release I’m Game ran into an unexpected distribution problem. Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, the fantasy thriller marks Dulquer Salmaan’s comeback to Malayalam cinema after King of Kotha (2023). The film released in theatres on Thursday but faced content delivery issues for the Telugu version, according to several posts by netizens. The opening-day shows in Hyderabad were reportedly cancelled due to multiple issues. Several users took to social media to complain about content delays, screening issues and cancelled shows.
Delay in Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) Dulquer Salmaan
According to reports, the Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) for the Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada versions of I’m Game were not delivered to theatres on time for the first shows on Thursday. The delay resulted in multiple shows being cancelled. While the makers had reportedly hinted to distributors and exhibitors about a possible delay in delivering the DCPs, it was never expected to reach a point where the morning shows had to be cancelled.
The Malayalam version of the Dulquer Salmaan-starrer released as scheduled across Kerala and other Malayalam-speaking markets. But fans of the other language versions, Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada, who had booked tickets were disappointed after learning that the morning shows had been delayed. Due to the unexpected technical snag, I’m Game was temporarily removed from local screening listings.
Box office impact!
The advance ticket sales for I’m Game were encouraging after bookings opened on September 1. However, the indefinite delay in screenings and the cancellation of shows may significantly impact the film’s box office collections. This unforeseen development could also affect audience interest in watching the film.
I’m Game was earlier slated to release on August 20 but was postponed. Dulquer Salmaan, who is also producing the film, explained that he wanted to give the film the scale, reach and theatrical platform it truly deserves. He wanted audiences across different markets to experience it on the big screen. But the current scenario is like ‘adding insult to injury’ for the makers.
Also Read: I’m Game Release Postponed: Dulquer Salmaan’s Action Thriller Gets New September Date
