Burn The Stage is documentary following the worldwide famous music group BTS, as they tour the world and share their experience along with their beloved band friends and fans.
November 15 marked a special moment in Korean group BTS' long list of accomplishments as their first feature film Burn the Stage: The movie was slated to be released worldwide in over 70 countries, and India was one of them. The documentary gave fans, who are fondly known as ARMY, an intimate, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the septet group's life
While the release of the film was one of the most exciting moments this month, it was even more special for an Indian ARMY. The film's release in the country is considered to be the first official sign of recognition of the Indian fanbase by the artiste's agency Big Hit Entertainment.
"I am very happy that this is happening because it is not a market you will completely invest in. India is considered to be a market for Bollywood, but for Big Hit Entertainment to consider screening the movie itself was a shock. I did not expect India to be there, to be very honest," Twinkle Choudhary, the administrator of Bangtan India, a group of Indian BTS fans, explained.
But as November 15 came, over 70 countries -- except India -- got to witness the group's rise to success. INOX, which was supposed to screen the film, stated on Twitter that the delay was because the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) "have asked for content to be refined and sent back".
But as November 15 came, over 70 countries -- except India -- got to witness the group's rise to success. INOX, which was supposed to screen the film, stated on Twitter that the delay was because the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) "have asked for content to be refined and sent back".
This confused fans further as they wondered what "refinement" CBFC would want from a documentary. With India missing out on the worldwide event, fans grew upset and lost hope of seeing one of their favourite groups on stage. And the spoilers being shared on Twitter by fans in other countries who got to watch the film definitely did not help the mood here.
But when Mirror reached out to CBFC, it was revealed that the real reason the film's release was delayed was incomplete documentation.
"It is absolute misinformation (that CBFC had asked for refinement of the film). We were merely waiting for full documentation, which was not provided. No content refinement was asked by the CBFC, except for a modification," Tushar Karmarkar, Regional Officer of the CBFC, told Mirror.
The modification requested was the blurring of a liquor bottle's label shown in the film, he added.
Burn the Stage: The Movie was granted a U/A certificate on Friday and is now slated to be released on November 25.
Indian ARMYs will finally get the chance to witness BTS burn the stage on the big screen. After all, isn't it better to be late than never?