In a rebuff to Shiv Sena, Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'My Name is Khan' was screened in major cinema halls in the city to packed houses on Friday amid unprecedented security.
After a shaky start when multiplexes and single-screen cinemas cancelled morning shows, the owners went ahead with the remaining day's schedule after getting an overwhelming response from Mumbaikars. "i am humbled by this show of love & kindness. so dont know wot else to say. overwhelmed & promise will make india proud with my hard work," Khan tweeted from Berlin. However, Shiv Sena, which has sought an apology from Khan for favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL, claimed it had succeeded in its agitation. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from some parts of the city with Sena activists staging protests outside cinema halls.
Fifty Sena activists, including city corporator Rajul Patel, were arrested from various parts of the city on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly, police said adding that over 2,000 preventive arrests have been made since February 9.
A group of Sainiks were canecharged by police after a stone throwing incident outside Fun Republic Cinema in suburban Andheri while angry protesters damaged the wind screen of a public transport bus in a nearby locality.
Of a total of 63 multiplexes, 15 major chains released the movie. Most of the single screen theatres also followed suit.
Johar, who has directed the film, tweeted, "Am overwhelmed and moved to tears with all the support our labour of love is getting. Thank you. Thank you. Your hand on our head makes us."
Making a political statement, Maharashtra's Home Minister, RR Patil and his deputy Ramesh Bhagwe watched the film at Inox at Nariman Point.
Khan's wife Gauri, who is the co-producer of the film, also watched the movie in a theatre.
""It is a beautiful film and everybody should watch it. At times like these, peace is the most important thing," she said.
The 39-year-old producer said Shah Rukh is elated with the initial response to the film.
"He (Shah Rukh) was very very sad yesterday but today he is very happy that everybody in Mumbai and all over India has come to watch his film. Karan (Johar) is with him today on his side, supporting him. We are very happy," Gauri said.
In a massive security bandobast rare for a film, CCTV cameras with night vision were installed inside some of the cinema halls and policemen in large numbers were deployed.
Khan regretted the controversy, which was construed by the Sena as an apology it was demanding. But the 44-year-old superstar quickly clarified on his Twitter page that the apology was for his fans and not directed at the Sena. "i thank u all for this..apologise for giving stress over the last few days...& now truly know the meaning of being humbled.lov u all so much (sic)," Khan tweeted.
He later added, "whoa.. just hearing some media reports. just so that all know...wot i say here is for my fans across the world. thats all." 'MNIK' is the story of Rizwan Khan (SRK), a man suffering from Asperger's Syndrome, who is mistaken for a terrorist in post 9/11 America and undertakes a long journey across the US to prove his innocence to the love of his life, played by Kajol.
It is the first major Bollywood movie to be picked up by an international production house Fox Searchlight for overseas distribution. Fox reportedly bought the movie rights for a whopping Rs 100 crores. Multiplexes in Gujarat defied protests from VHP and Bajarag Dal and screened the movie after skipping the morning shows. The film opened to full houses in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and in other major cities. PTI
