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Posts tagged kanjurmarg
CM threatens to snap Uddhav’s Z-plus security
Feb 10th
ADVANCE WARNING: Sainiks tore posters and vandalised the booking counter at Mehul cinema in Mulund on Tuesday
Sena Renews Warning To Disrupt SRK Film, Attacks 2 Theatres
Prafulla Marpakwar | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 10, 2010)
Mumbai: With the Shiv Sena on Tuesday resuming its attacks against the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan, embattled chief minister Ashok Chavan warned that if the party did not allow the smooth screening of the film he would ask the lawenforcing agencies to immediately withdraw the Z-plus security cover of Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray. Incidentally, the CM’s threat comes a day after the government withdrew the security cover of nearly half a dozen Shiv Sena legislators.
On Tuesday, Sainiks went on the rampage, attacking several halls where advance bookings for the film were on, even ripping the screens at two theatres—Huma Adlabs at Kanjurmarg and Metro Cinema in south Mumbai. Following the attacks, producer Karan Johar, along with distributors, met Mumbai police commissioner D Sivanandan to seek security for screening the movie. Chavan met multiplex owners and distributors later in the evening on the issue. He told them that his government was committed to ensuring the safe release of the film.
“My government will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands. If the Sena is indulging in violence and halting the film’s release, we will have no option but to withdraw the special security cover provided to Uddhav Thackeray,’’ Chavan said.
Uddhav, along with his father Bal Thackeray, has the highest security cover in Maharashtra with over 100 constables in each shift and 15-16 constables to guard him. Chavan is probably the first Maharashtra CM to threaten Uddhav with withdrawal of security cover.
Sources said Shah Rukh Khan had taken up the issue of security for his film with Rahul Gandhi who, in turn, asked Chavan to initiate stringent measures against the Sainiks.
Miffed Uddhav gives up cop cover
Late on Tuesday night, miffed Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray gave up the Maharashtra government’s security cover provided to him, reports Ambarish Mishra. “I don’t need your security. I am returning your constables,’’ he said. The state has already withdrawn the official security given to Sena leaders Prakash Bala Sawant, Anil Parab and Ravindra Waikar. All three had taken the lead in organising black flag demonstrations against Rahul Gandhi during the Congress leader’s Mumbai visit last Friday.
Mumbai theatres attacked; warned not to screen MNIK
Feb 10th
By Satish Sundaresan, February 10, 2010 – 12:57 IST
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They say that Promises are meant to be broken, a statement that holds immense water in the field of politics. And it is this ‘promise’ by the leading political party Shiv Sena that gave assurance to the makers of the much anticipated film My Name Is Khan, starring SRK, Kajol and others. The said party had assured the filmmakers that they will let the film run on screens without any hassles from their side.
However, the party workers yesterday attacked three theatres in Mumbai (Shreyas Theatre-Ghatkopar, Mehul Talkies-Mulund, and Metro Big Cinemas-Dhobi Talao), that will be screening the Karan Johar directed MNIK.
Bollywood Hungama has also got the oven-fresh news that Cinemax Cinemas have stopped advance bookings for the film, directed by Karan Johar which releases on Friday.
Leaves of all Mumbai policemen have been cancelled in order to ensure the smooth proceedings of the shows. The security cover at the single screen theatres as well as the multiplexes have been more than doubled, while MNIK‘s lead star Shah Rukh Khan’s security has been increased.
Even though there was stone pelting at the said theatres, the situation in Metro Big Cinemas was reported to be the worst as party workers went onto vandalize and tear one of the screens. An official with Metro Cinema, requesting anonymity, told Bollywood Hungama, “The ‘modus operandi’ adopted by the party workers was really something. They entered the theatre on the pretext of watching a film. Within a few minutes, there was some stone-throwing outside the theatre. When we went to control that, the workers in the theatre started their act of tearing the screen apart. The damages are too huge to be even spoken about.”
A certain Mr. Prakash Shah (name changed on request) from Mehul Talkies, who was present at the time of the incident, told us that at around 12.45 pm, a mob of about 14 -15 people entered through the main door and started damaging the theatre property. They started off by breaking the glass door, windows, and then attacked the canteen. If that wasn’t enough, they even entered the cinema hall where a Marathi film Shikshanacha Aaicha Gho was being screened and threatened the present audience with dire consequences if they came to watch MNIK. The overall damages are an estimated Rs. 1 lakh plus.” He further added, “What was more shocking was the fact that nobody from the said mob was carrying the party flag! And the whole incident lasted for almost 15 minutes”.
The situation was slightly different at Shreyas Theatre, Ghatkopar. When we spoke to one of the theatre staff there, he said, “I am just not going to reveal my name to you as I fear losing my job, if any of the party workers gets to know that it was me who spoke about the incident.” After repeated assurances from our end, he revealed, “Yesterday, at around 9 am, about 50 policemen arrived at the theatre stating they were here for ‘bandobast’. When we asked them what was the need for the ‘bandobast’, they said that they were anticipating some trouble. They also enquired if we had got any threatening calls from any political party to stop the screening of the forthcoming film MNIK. And since we had not received any calls from anyone, we replied in the negative. The policemen then went on with their duty of providing security to the theatre. Then, at around 12 noon, some 12-15 men from Shiv Sena armed with their party flags started shouting anti-SRK slogans. The policemen stationed outside immediately flung into action and brought the situation under control. However, four party workers managed to sneak inside the theatre and told the management to not screen MNIK.”
There were groups of the party workers who were also seen protesting and shouting slogans in the areas of Kanjurmarg, Bandra, Khar and other parts of the city. A senior official from the police department told us, “There were around 13 party workers whom we arrested from Mulund, and around 23 detained in Ghatkopar and Kanjurmarg in connection with the said protests.”
The damages also got extended upto Maratha Mandir, New Empire and also Minerva. The situation was slightly upheaval here SRK’s face in MNIK poster was blackened, stating that this was just sampler of what to expect once when the film gets released.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Multiplexes in Mumbai stop MNIK bookings
Feb 10th
Despite halls being vandalised, and threat of Sena protests, Shah Rukh and Karan Johar say… Khan WILL release this week
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 10, 2010)
With the Shiv Sena going on the rampage against the theatres screening My Name Is Khan, the sudden and violent change of stance after indicating a truce has shocked the film industry.
Several Sena dominated pockets of the city including Mulund, Kanjurmarg, Ghatkopar and Chembur witnessed attacks on theatres planning to screen My Name Is Khan. Huma Adlabs, Shreyas, Ashish and Metro were among the theatres attacked.
Yesterday, the film’s producer Karan Johar met up with Police Commissioner D Sivanandan to discuss the situation. While the police has warned of strict action against troublemakers and over 200 arrests were made on Tuesday, the situation remains volatile. And bearing the brunt are the theatres.
“We are waiting to hear from the distributors (Fox Cinemas) to take an official stand on whether or not to go ahead with the release of My Name Is Khan. It is as much their decision as ours,” said Shunali Shroff of Fame Big Cinemas, adding, “Hopefully, by Wednesday morning, things should get resolved.”
Devang Sampat, GM Marketing, Cinemax said, “We are yet to take a call on this. I have still to speak to the operation team since this is more of an operation call.”
Meanwhile, in an interview to a television channel, Shah Rukh Khan said that while he has had a warm relationship with Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, he didn’t feel there was anything he had said which he should apologise for. He also said that he had not sought any appointment with them to sort out the issue.
It may be recalled that the Shiv Senas had taken an objection to Shah Rukh’s comment that Pakistani cricket players should be allowed to play in the IPL.
At the time of going to press, representatives from all the multiplexes were in a meeting with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to find a solution to the impasse.
