Mumbai theatres puts up Shivaji posters to avoid Sena rampage

Theatre owners who have borne the brunt of Shiv Sena men's ire over the screening of My Name Is Khan could take a leaf out of this quick-thinking Mahim hall. Staff at Paradise theatre in Mahim put up posters of Mee Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy yesterday, hoping that the sight of the Maratha icon would deter protestors from attacking the theatre, which is set to screen the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer.

A theatre staff told MiD DAY that they had decided to put up this poster to ensure that the theatre would not be targeted by Shiv Sainiks. Mee Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy has Chhatrapati Shivaji as an imaginary character.

Incidentally, the theatre was not attacked.

The Marathi film is not currently running in the theatre. When we called up the booking counter later in the day, asking why the poster was put up, the person on the other end said, "We may screen My Name is Khan or Me Shivajiraje, but that will be decided only tomorrow."

He added that the poster was not put up to save the theatre from attack.

Paradise owner Nilofer was not available for comment despite several attempts.

'Hire pvt security'

While the state and police have assured security to theatre and multiplex owners, they have also advised them to engage private security.

"We will provide security to them, but they too need do something on their own. Therefore, we requested them to engage private security inside the theatre," said Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe.

Cinemax senior vice president Dewang Sampat confirmed that they had engaged private security.

Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandan assured, "We will provide security to anybody who approaches us for help."

Meanwhile, all leaves of city policemen have been cancelled and four companies of SRPF have been put on standby for the release of the film tomorrow.

Owners worried

R K Vidhani, president of the theatre owners' association, sounded worried.

"I am unsure whether theatre owners will actually screen the movie. Despite the police commissioner's assurance, so many theatres have been attacked and the theatre owners are facing heavy losses," he said.
(Mid Day)