'Ready to screen 'Padmaavat' in MP if security is guaranteed': MP theatre owners

Theatre owners in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh are awaiting a “positive signal” from the state government on providing security before they can release the controversial film “Padmaavat” which hit the screens in other states on January 25.

“We are full prepared to screen ‘Padmaavat’. But we are going to screen it only after getting a guarantee from the state government to provide foolproof security to the film,” Central Circuit Cine Association president Jaiprakash Chouksey told PTI on Monday.

Theatre owners in Madhya Pradesh had last month decided not to screen “Padmaavat” following largescale protests and bandh in several places against the period drama, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The state government, however, had said it was ready to provide security if the theatre owners wanted to screen the movie.

On January 23, two days before the release of “Padmaavat”, the Supreme Court had refused to modify its earlier order which had cleared the decks for the nationwide release of the film and rejected pleas filed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh seeking modification.

Also Read: Protest against 'Padmaavat' will continue: Karni Sena leaders

“Who is going to be responsible if the people opposed to the movie vandalise cinema halls and some unpleasant thing happen with the audience,” Chouksey questioned.

He said the movie would be screened only after they get a “positive signal” from the state government on providing foolproof security to cinema halls and viewers, who come to watch “Padmaavat”.

Film distributors and cinema hall owners led by Chouksey on Monday called on Indore district collector Nishant Warwade in this regard.

Meanwhile, Rajput organisation Karni Sena on Monday reiterated its opposition to the release of “Padmaavat” in Madhya Pradesh.

“As the film has portrayed the history in a distorted manner, we will continue to oppose,” said state Karni Sena in-charge, Raghu Parmar. He said the Sena would chalk out its strategy by summoning a meeting if the film was released in MP.