Robert Pattinson’s psychological crime thriller ‘Primetime’ has finally arrived in Indian theatres. However, the film reached screens only after facing several changes from India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The movie received an ‘A’ certificate. However, the CBFC also ordered seven seconds of frontal nudity to be removed. In addition, two instances of profanity were muted, an alcohol brand was blurred, and a new warning was added.
The film released in India on September 25. However, its certification process has already become a talking point among moviegoers.
Why Did CBFC Cut The Film?
The biggest change involved a scene featuring frontal nudity. The CBFC directed the makers to remove around seven seconds from the sequence.
At the same time, the board asked for two obscene words to be muted. An alcohol brand shown in the film was also blurred.
Moreover, viewers will now see a 10-second disclaimer before the movie begins. The warning highlights the film’s adult themes and disturbing content.
Why Cut An Adult-Rated Movie?
Interestingly, the cuts come despite the film receiving an adult-only certificate. As a result, the decision quickly attracted attention online.
Some social media users questioned why content needed to be removed from a film that was already restricted to adult audiences. The discussion has also brought renewed attention to India’s film certification practices.
However, these specific changes apply to the Indian release of Primetime.
The Final Runtime Is Longer
There is another interesting detail about the film’s final runtime.
Despite the seven-second cut, the certified version runs for 110 minutes and 15 seconds. That is because the filmmakers added around 46 seconds of new material.
The additions include closed captions, logos and a marketing slide. Therefore, the extra material more than offsets the footage removed during certification.
Robert Pattinson Takes On A Real-Life Role
In Primetime, Robert Pattinson plays journalist Chris Hansen. The story is inspired by Hansen’s work on the NBC series To Catch a Predator.
The film explores the complicated relationship between investigative journalism and television entertainment. It also looks at fame, ratings and the pressure surrounding sensational stories.
For the role, Pattinson reportedly spent considerable time studying Hansen. He listened to Hansen’s podcast and worked on capturing his distinctive voice and mannerisms.
Moreover, a conversation between Hansen and comedian Theo Von helped inspire Pattinson to take on the character.
Who Made ‘Primetime’?
The film marks Lance Oppenheim’s first narrative feature as a director. Before this project, Oppenheim was primarily known for his documentary work.
Meanwhile, Ajon Singh wrote the screenplay. The story is adapted from Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article.
The film is backed by A24, with filmmaker Ari Aster among its producers. Together, the team brings a documentary-style approach to a story rooted in real events.
Who Stars Alongside Pattinson?
Pattinson leads a strong ensemble cast.
Merritt Wever plays producer Andie Bender, while Skyler Gisondo appears as a decoy actor. Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers also makes her dramatic feature film debut.
Meanwhile, Anna Faris plays Hansen’s first wife, Mary Joan. The cast also includes Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine.
What Indian Viewers Need To Know
Indian audiences watching Primetime will see the CBFC-approved version. That means the seven-second nudity cut, muted language, blurred alcohol branding and opening disclaimer are all part of the theatrical release.
The movie has a runtime of approximately 110 minutes. More importantly, it offers Pattinson a very different role from many of his previous films.
With the film now in theatres, audiences can decide for themselves how the thriller handles its complicated themes of crime, journalism, fame and television.
Will you be watching Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ in theatres? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for more Hollywood and entertainment updates.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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