Theatres in Goa gave Padmaavat the step child treatment by
choosing not to screen the film despite being given the green signal by the
CBFC and the Supreme Court. Despite no indication of any law and order
situation to release the controversial film in Goa, the biggest theatres
including Inox and Z Square refrained from screening the film on Thursday. As a
result, hundreds of film goers across Goa coming to watch the film were left
disappointed. Many said that an early intimation would have prevented the
audience from coming to theatre and wasting their time.
In Panjim, Inox and Z Square screened all other movies
except Padmaavat. When contacted, the General Manager of Inox that has
multiplexes in Panjim, Porvorim and Margao, sais, “Inox is not screening
Padmaavat anywhere in Goa. It is the decision of someone at the top and we need
to obey.” All 17 screens of Z-Square across Goa also refrained from screening
Padmaavat. Pravin Zantye, a proprietor of Z-Square said that they have taken
decisions not to screen ‘Padmaavat’ to avoid any untoward incident during the
screening.
The screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial
Padmaavat movie was held peacefully under foolproof police protection in two
out of three cinema halls in Vasco town. According to the information, out of
three cinema halls including K Sera Miniplex, Z Square (earlier known as Shivam
theatre) and El Monte theatre, only K Sera Miniplex and El Monte screened the
films but the response was not as expected. Police said that they have provided
full protection to both these theaters in Vasco so as to avoid any law and
order problems.
“I have deputed 9 policemen including a PSI level officer
and other 8 constables at K Sera Miniplex, Similarly sufficient number of
policemen have been deployed at El Monte. So far everything is peaceful with
untoward incident reported” Vasco PI Nolasco Raposo said.
Though the policemen were present to provide security
however response from the public upset El Monte theatre owner. “I had planned
for four shows including at 12 noon, 3 pm, 6pm and 9.30 pm however 12 noon show
had to be suspended because the required license for screening the movie was
received little late. I had expected that 3pm show will be houseful but I was
wrong as only 30 people in the 165 capacity theatre came for the movie though
we had full proof police protection. Even the advance booking is going low, I
only hope that other shows might get good public response” said Suresh
Madiwalkar, lease owner of El Monte theatre.
Public response at K Sera Multiplex however was little
satisfactorily but not overwhelming. “As
far as Vasco is concerned, everything is peaceful here with no reports of law
and order problems. Police and other officers of state administration are
supporting a lot. Even yesterday we had screening for the movie,” a
officer at K Sera miniplex told Herald.
In Ponda, the newly opened two-screen multiplex, Carnival
Cinemas screened Padmaavat, with one Police sub Inspector and many constables
guarding the multiplex. Altogether, six shows will be screened at the Ponda
multiplex, including the 10 pm show. In Margao, Z Square Cine Vishant refrained
from screening the film. When contacted, the manager of the theatre said, “Who
wants to bear loss of property for a minuscule amount of collection?” Hundreds
of movie-goers who had made a trip to Inox, Margao with a hope that the
multiplex will be screening Padmaavat, were left high and dry.
