Restricted ‘MNIK’ release in Mumbai; CM Chavan to watch the movie

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: Despite the ongoing protests against the Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘My Name Is Khan’, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has once again urged the audience to be fearless and watch the movie. The Maharshtra CM will watch 'MNIK' at the INOX cinema of Fame Adlabs, amid a very limited release of the film in downtown Mumbai, as has been decided by the multiplex owners. On the other hand, senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi went up against 'MNIK' as he reached a cinema hall in Dadar to halt the screening of the film Friday afternoon. Joshi says that Sena demands an apology from SRK, and the party will continue protesting against the actor and his film until he apologises. In a meeting early on Friday, three big multiplexes – Adlabs, Cinemax and Fun Republic - had decided to release the movie at one screen each in Mumbai. And according to the latest update, all major multiplexes have opened bookings and screenings of the movie. Meanwhile, 'MNIK' is reportedly running to full house at INOX and FUN Cinemas in Mumbai. Apart from these, three multiplexes, one cinema in Nagpur, has also decided to go ahead with the release of the movie, but for rest of the state, it’s going to be a ‘no show’ as of now. This despite, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s repeated assertion that full security would be provided to all cinema halls. He had even urged cinema owners to display courage by exhibiting the movie and not get cowed down by the threats from the Shiv Sena. Mumbai Police Commissioner D Shivanandhan also said that adequate security has already been provided to all cinemas planning to screen the movie. The Sena is opposing the film`s release after Shah Rukh refused to apologise for saying that Pakistani cricketers should have been included for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches. Uncertainty in Gujarat Multiplexes in the state have also halted plans to screen `My Name is Khan` after VHP, Bajrang Dal activists protested against the movie in Ahmedabad and Rajkot. There are also reports that posters of the movie where burnt down. The police has detained 50 activists. Youths attack Delhi movie hall showing `MNIK` A cinema hall in west Delhi, which was scheduled to screen the movie was vandalised by a group of miscreants early Friday. The police, however, said they were not associated with any political group. The youngsters broke a window pane of Satyam Janak Place cinema hall in Janakpuri in west Delhi. "A group of two-three youngsters were drunk and broke the glass with the aim of creating mischief. One of them was caught. They don`t seem to be associated with any political party or group. They did not have any placards or posters against the movie," Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Sharad Agarwal told a news agency. The one who was caught was identified as 19-year-old Brij Mohan, a resident of JJ Colony in Uttam Nagar. He is a Class 11 drop-out, the police official said.