Bengaluru: Barring a couple of premier shows screened on Wednesday, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, starring Bengaluru girl Deepika Padukone, finally got released across the state, including Bengaluru, on Thursday evening after the end of a state-wide bandh called by several pro-Kannada organisations.
Theatres and multiplex screens resumed functioning post 6 pm on Thursday, for pre-booked shows. While several northern states in the country witnessed riots and protests, Karnataka remained peaceful. There were no reports of any visible protests and disturbances, with Mahadayi being the prime focus.
While reports of Karni Sena going berserk in many north Indian towns became prime time news on most TV channels, netizens on various social media platform expressed their support for Padmavat under the hashtag #WillSeePadmavat.
Some even dared Karni Sena activists to stop them from watching the first-day first show of the film. While others expressed anguish over the protests and for curtailing their rights. Many were disappointed that they could not watch the movie due to security concerns.
Some were angry with th politicization of the issue and lack of any firm action against the protesters. As for Bengaluru, the majority of the theatres and multiplexes finally started screening the film with tickets booked in advance for a week from Wednesday.
“As of now (till Thursday evening), no untoward incidents have been reported in the state. After the bandh, most theatres have resumed functioning. We will take a call only if a any violent situation arises,” said K V Chandrashekar of the State Film Exhibitors body. An official from the PVR Cinemas confirmed that they have resumed functioning, including the screening of Padmaavat, from 7 pm onwards on Thursday.
