Pankaj Tripathi’s upcoming family drama Ohh My Dog has reportedly been postponed by one week. The Amit Rai-directed film was earlier scheduled to release in theatres on July 31, but is now expected to arrive on August 7.
The change comes after the film received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification. According to the report, the delay is linked to a shortage of screens, with exhibitors likely to give a large number of shows to Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Screen shortage behind the change
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, is being treated as a major theatrical release. Its expected scale has made it harder for smaller films to get enough shows in the same week.
The makers of Ohh My Dog are said to have chosen a later date so that the film can get better screen availability. The report said the revised release date is August 7, although the makers were yet to make an official announcement at the time.
Director Amit Rai described the decision as a practical one. He said the concern was not about the film’s content, but about the limited space available in theatres. Rai also pointed to other films already occupying screens, including Odyssey and Dhamaal 4.
Rai said Spider-Man: Brand New Day was expected to have a very strong opening, possibly around Rs. 50 crores. Since Ohh My Dog is also aimed at family audiences, he felt its audience could overlap with the viewers going for the bigger releases.
Explaining the shift, Rai said the team decided to “step aside briefly” and return a week later, when there may be more room for the film to grow in theatres.
CBFC clears the film with changes
The postponement follows the film’s certification process. Ohh My Dog has been given a U/A certificate by the CBFC, but only after some modifications were directed.
As part of the changes, references to the brands Truecaller and Dettol have been muted. A cuss word has also been muted. A sequence involving a dog has been shortened by two seconds.
The board also asked the makers to blur a photo frame of Lord Hanuman visible in one scene. In addition, two disclaimers have been added to the film. One relates to child labour, which is part of the story, and the other addresses human trafficking.
Cast and story details
Ohh My Dog stars Pankaj Tripathi along with Pawan Malhotra, Maahi Rai, Rajesh Kumar and Geeta Agrawal Sharma in key roles. The film also features canine performers Oscar and Bruno.
More than 250 dogs appear in the film, according to the report. The story focuses on the emotional connection between a young child and his pet, while also including humour and social themes.
The film marks Amit Rai’s return to direction after a gap. With the release now expected a week later, the makers appear to be looking for a window where the film can receive a wider theatrical presence without being squeezed by one of the year’s biggest Hollywood releases.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.