Abheet Gupta 
India is known for its love of masala movies — the larger-than-life entertainers that dominate our screens. But for those of us who are into arthouse, world, or indie cinema, being a cinephile in India often feels like swimming against the current. And while remote areas understandably struggle, one of the biggest surprises is how poorly Delhi — a massive metro — caters to serious film lovers. Here’s a personal look at why it’s difficult to be a cinephile in Delhi NCR. Same issues may persist in some other major cities as well, but I can only speak for Delhi NCR.
1. A Lot of Theatres, But Not a Lot of Good Ones
Sure, Delhi in itself has over 50 active theatres. But when it comes to real quality — screens, sound, seats, crowd etiquette, ambience — you’d be lucky to find even 10-15 venues worth your time throughout NCR. Many are outdated, poorly maintained, or plagued by unruly crowds. Some are located in areas that are hard to reach or just don’t feel inviting. [Related: Best Theatres in NCR Ranked]
2. Fancy Formats, Poor Execution
On paper, Delhi NCR boasts an impressive number of special format screens: 8 IMAX, 7 4DX, 1 ScreenX, 1 MX4D, 2 ICE Theatres, and more. But reality often disappoints. IMAX screens or rather LieMAX, aren’t big enough to be called IMAX, 4DX auditoriums glitch or feel half-baked, MX4D is rarely operational, and ScreenX (being new) is still struggling to fully embrace their potential. What should be cutting-edge experiences end up feeling like marketing gimmicks.
3. The Great Foreign Film Black Hole
Hollywood blockbusters? Sure. A few anime hits? Sometimes. But if you’re waiting to see international cinema — films from Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia — good luck. Unless a film is a global box office event or backed by major studio, it’s unlikely to find a release in Delhi. Most of us rely on limited, scattered film festivals or home screens. There’s little to no institutional effort to make foreign films accessible to the big-screen audience. In 2023-24 this issue reached a new low when even the Japanese blockbuster Godzilla Minus One failed to find a screen in Delhi NCR. The only known screening held for this film was by Delhi Movie Club in May 2024 alongside Monkey Man, which also failed to find a big screen in Delhi.
4. Indie? What’s That?
Indie international releases — the kind that define festivals like Sundance, Cannes, Berlinale — are practically non-existent in Delhi. As an example, some of my most anticipated releases like The Ballad of Wallis Island, or Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague, will likely never screen here. Even celebrated indie studios like A24 only manage to get half their catalog to Delhi screens — and that’s a good year.
5. Film Festivals Are There… But Not Quite
Yes, Delhi does have its fair share of film festivals: DIFF, Habitat Film Festival, Japanese and Korean Fests, Smile, Navrasa, and others. But:
- Most show older classics or last year’s festival circuits.
- Technical quality (sound, seating, subtitles) is often poor.
- Venues are makeshift, screenings get delayed, or subtitles are missing altogether.
They often feel like missed opportunities rather than celebrations of cinema.
6. No Premieres, No Celebs, No Hype
Unlike Mumbai, Delhi never hosts big movie premieres, celebrity appearances, or red-carpet events. There are no real experience zones by major studios, no set tours, no themed installations — nothing that makes you feel like you’re in a film-loving city. Even Delhi’s so-called Film City is a ghost of what it could be. As for the Delhi Comic Con — while cosplayers are its saving grace since past 2 years — it still lacks celebs (both Indian and foreign, exclusive promos, panels, or film previews.
7. When Big Films Come, So Do Big Prices
Most of the year, theatres barely survive. So when a major film drops — Oppenheimer, Dune, Top Gun, or MCU blockbusters — ticket prices skyrocket. A ₹400-500 LieMAX ticket suddenly becomes ₹1000+. Sure, supply-demand economics applies, but at what point does it become exclusionary? People often tend to skip even such blockbusters owing to these insane prices.
8. The Biggest Problem Is the Audience Itself
Ultimately, the chains reflect the audience — and this, sadly, is Delhi’s biggest obstacle. Theatres take chances now and then: screening a Sundance gem, a Cannes winner, or a lesser-known Korean drama. But the halls stay empty. Cinephiles are a niche within a niche, and most viewers still only show up for commercial films, superhero flicks, or anime. Until more people show interest in arthouse, foreign, or indie cinema, theatre chains have little reason to take risks. It’s a self-fulfilling cycle of disappointment.
Conclusion: It’s Lonely, But Not Hopeless
Being a cinephile in Delhi means constantly being let down — by theatres, by distributors, and always by the audience. But it’s also better than it used to be. Two decades ago, many of these films were simply out of reach. Today, we at least have the internet, festivals, and global awareness but we have still a very very very long way to go. Yet, watching great cinema in a great hall with a great audience — in the city I love — remains a dream I refuse to give up on. Let’s keep pushing, fellow cinephiles!
Before we go, if you are looking for a community of cinephiles in Delhi NCR, be sure to check out our very own Delhi Movie Club (@delhimovieclub) with over 500 members. We hold movie meetups every weekend, trying to keep theatre viewing alive as well as classic/OTT movie screenings.
If you have any questions regarding movies or Delhi NCR, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
