Mumbai:
Hours before his film is released in India, there's uncertainty over whether Mumbai will screen Shah Rukh Khan's
My Name Is Khan.
Most cinema-owners in the city say they will make a decision on Friday morning. But for Khan and the film's director, Karan Johar, it's a nail-biting climax in their stand-off with the Shiv Sena which has threatened to prevent the film from screening unless Khan apologises for his remarks on Pakistani cricketers. (
Read: SRK tweets "for last time" on Sena controversy)
That's what Mumbai's cinema-owners are urging Khan to do. Last week, the actor stated he would not retract. On Thursday, he tweeted that the Sena's Uddhav and Bal Thackeray had "misconstrued" his remarks. (
SRK tweets Thackerays "misconstrued my words")
But cinema-owners want Khan and the Sena to formally declare a truce. The film's distributors, Fox Searchlight, said on Thursday night that the film would release as scheduled on Friday.
"There is a huge demand for My Name Is Khan and we are confirming the news that MNIK will open nationally everywhere on Friday," said Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Searchlight, distributors of the film.
But on Thursday evening, first it was multiplexes who said they didn't want to risk the wrath of the Sena. Cinemas located in malls were especially worried. Mall-owners made it clear they didn't want shops and other businesses to get caught in potential crossfire between the Sena and the police that has been assigned to guard theatres.
63 cinemas in Mumbai are meant to screen the film. Half of these are multiplexes. Soon, single-screen cinemas said they too were unsure about showing the film. They say the expense of private security, and video cameras to monitor the audiences, as requested by the Mumbai police, may just not be worth it. (
Read: Mumbai's multiplexes fortified)
As the crisis expanded, Shah Rukh tweeted, "i have the courage of conviction by my side. i explain becos better to do that, than create aggression & division in my country. ironic & sad. a film made for world peace has led to so much angst in my own house.my city.my country. let not anyone be hurt is all i pray. i have no ego or false sense of pride. my words have been benign & without ill will to any person (s) or my nation."
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan urged all cinemas to "be bold, and we will protect you." Chavan added that he has no interest in promoting the film, but cannot accept threats to law and order. It's sad, he added, that policemen have to be used to deal with the Sena's threats rather than with Naxals or terrorists.
On Wednesday, cinemas closed advance bookings - they said they didn't feel safe from the Sena. Later in the evening, they identified a list of vulnerable cinemas, the police added more security at these theatres, and advance bookings began shortly after that.
The police has arrested close to 1800 Sainiks in preparation for the film's release. The leave of all Mumbai cops has been cancelled so that they can guard cinemas. One-fourth of Mumbai's police force will be devoted to patrolling cinemas. (
Read: Mumbai police leave cancelled for SRK's film)
Theatre-owners have been asked to ensure that the first three rows in every theatre are left empty. All ticket-holders will be asked to provide identity cards. No bags will be allowed into any cinemas.
Also read:
Raj Thackeray won't join Sena against SRK