Bhopal: As Sanjay Leela Bhansali flick, Padmaavat, is released across the country, theatre owners in Madhya Pradesh announced their decision not to screen the movie showing respect to the public sentiments.
Meanwhile, following the bandh called by Karni Sena, markets in several towns remained closed on Thursday.
A delegation of theatre owners called on the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and later speaking to the media announced, “Showing respect to the public sentiments, we have decided not to screen the movie,” Azizuddin, Secretary of Bhopal Cine Association said.
However, the theatre owners also claimed that they did not get the prints from the distributor.
“We have briefed the CM about our decision and we would review the possibility of screening in next few days,” said Azizuddin.
“We will review the situation in next few days and would again meet the Chief Minister over screening,” said another association member Ashwani Agrawal.
Home minister Bhupendra Singh, after meeting CM Chouhan, said that there was no ban as such put in place by the state government on Padmaavat but theatre owners voluntarily have decided not to screen the movie.
“The CM has already made his stand public and we are reviewing SC’s decision of quashing our review petition,” said public relations minister Narottam Mishra.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Basant Pratap Singh also clarified that there was no ban on movie and theatre owners, if they wanted to screen it, were free to do so and administration was committed to offering them security cover. “We won’t allow law and order to deteriorate,” he affirmed.
“There is no law and order issue as the movie is not screened,” he said.
However, fearing a violent backlash from Karni Sena and affiliate groups, markets in several towns including Dewas, Ratlam, Jhabua, Mandsaur, Shajapur, Vidisha and others remained closed.
Theatres also wore a deserted look in Bhopal with the theatre owners putting up posters that Padmaavat is not being screened at their theatre.
However, with the movie not being screened in MP, no untoward incidents were reported from the state.
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