The makers of Damru have appealed to the Gujarat Government, cinema owners and distributors for fair showtimes and screen allocation. They want multiplexes and single-screen theatres to give the Gujarati comedy-drama at least one or two shows, based on audience demand.

The appeal comes after the film’s theatrical release on 23 October 2026. Produced under the banners of Gujotsav Productions and Vraj Films, Damru is directed by Hardik Pareekh. Its cast includes Sanjay Goradia, Nakshraj, Maulik Chauhan and Makrand Shukla.

The film’s team says audiences have responded well, with some shows running houseful. However, the producers claim that the arrival of big-budget Hindi and other language films, including Ramayana, during the festive season has made it difficult for Damru to secure enough screens and showtimes.

The appeal raises questions about the choices available to cinema owners during busy release periods and the space given to films made in regional languages.

The makers have said they are not seeking to stop the release or screening of big films. Their request is for Gujarati films to receive a fair chance to reach audiences in Gujarat, especially when viewers are willing to buy tickets.

The issue has a direct bearing on cinema-goers. The appeal points to ticket prices of Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000 for some festive-season films, compared with around Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 for Gujarati films.

For many middle-class families, the lower ticket price can make a cinema visit more affordable. A local-language film can also give families the chance to watch a story in their mother tongue.

Yet ticket prices alone do not decide whether a film reaches its audience. The number of screens, the timing of shows and the length of a film’s theatrical run also matter.

A film may attract viewers who want to watch it, but fewer showtimes can make it harder for them to find a suitable screening. Families may have to travel further, change their plans or miss the film altogether.

For producers, fewer shows can limit ticket sales. This can affect the money available to recover production and promotion costs. The same problem can also affect smaller distributors and cinema owners who depend on local films to bring viewers to their theatres.

The Damru appeal also draws attention to the people who work behind Gujarati films. These include technicians, cameramen, lightmen, spot boys and artists. Their work depends on film production and the chance for completed films to reach theatres.

Gujarati cinema has faced questions about screen access before. In February 2016, the Gujarat Government announced a policy to support Gujarati films through financial assistance and awards.

The policy included support for films based on their quality and other conditions. However, reports at the time noted that it did not require multiplexes or single-screen theatres to reserve prime-time slots for Gujarati films.

This distinction matters. Financial support can help producers make films, but it does not guarantee that cinema owners will give those films enough shows after release.

The Gujarat Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 2004, and the Gujarat Cinema Rules, 2014, provide a legal framework for cinema licensing and exhibition in the state. The rules define multiplex cinemas as venues with two or more screens.

The present appeal from Damru concerns how those screens are used when several films compete for audiences. Its makers have asked the Chief Minister, Home Minister, cinema owners and distributors to consider audience demand when deciding showtimes.

The demand also comes at a time when Gujarati films are reaching audiences through a growing range of stories and genres. Comedy, family drama, suspense and other themes have helped local filmmakers reach viewers who want entertainment in Gujarati.

For cinema owners, deciding how many shows to give each film involves several factors. These can include ticket sales, bookings, distributor agreements and the expected demand for each title. The makers of Damru have argued that audience interest should count when these decisions are made.

Their request for one or two shows is a call for a minimum opportunity, rather than a demand for every screen or prime-time slot.

Whether cinemas can meet such a request will depend on the response of theatre owners and distributors. The appeal does not provide independently verified figures for the film’s total ticket sales, the number of houseful shows or the screens currently allotted to it.

For viewers, the immediate concern is simple: a film they want to watch should have a reasonable chance of being screened at a time they can attend.

The question now is whether cinema owners in Gujarat will respond to the demand for Damru with more showtimes. The answer could also shape the discussion around screen access for other Gujarati films released during busy periods.

The makers have asked for a fair chance on their own soil. For Gujarati cinema, the issue is whether local films can find enough theatre space when audiences are ready to watch them.

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