Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 31: Here's good news for Mangalureans, a New Year's gift of sorts especially for moviegoers in the city. After days of wait, Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol starrer 'Dilwale', directed by Rohit Shetty, will finally be screened in all the multiplexes in the city from Friday January 1.

'Dilwale', which released on December 18, was taken off the screens after activists of Bajrang Dal protested against the movie on December 20, over superstar Shah Rukh Khan's comments on intolerance. They had also allegedly threatened the multiplex managements against screening of any movie of Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Confirming the resumption of the movie, Balakrishna Shetty of Big Cinemas in Bharat Mall, told daijiworld that there was a lot of pressure from the distributors, hence the managements of all the multiplexes (Big Cinemas, PVR and Cinepolis) had decided to screen the movie from January 1.

He however added that the managements have not yet sought police protection during the screening.

Speaking to daijiworld, DCP Shantharaju said that though the theatres have not sought security yet, the police department was prepared to provide protection whenever the movie is to be screened.

After Bajrang Dal forcibly stopped the screening of the movie, the Citizens' Forum for Mangalore Development led by Vidya Dinker had filed a complaint against Bajrang Dal convener Sharan Pumpwell and other activists. The Forum had also written to chief minister Siddaramaiah and home minister Dr G Parameshwara, who had assured to take action in the case. The police had arrested 6 persons in connection to the case and released them on bail. Though police had given adequate security to the malls, the multiplex managements were reluctant to screen the movie.

Responding to the development, Vidya Dinker, speaking to daijiworld said, "It is a good sign. In response to a common citizen standing up, at least the theatre owners are also standing up to these kind of intimidatory tactics of such extremist groups. The police action in providing security to the theatres must have also helped. But what we look forward to is an atmosphere of freedom and security that cinegoers can enjoy in 2016." 

Bookings for the movie have already opened in all the multiplexes.

• Mangaluru: KSRP security deployed at malls, but still no 'Dilwale'
• Mangaluru: 'Dilwale' row - 'Police ready to provide security, but theatres have not taken steps'
• Mangaluru: 'Dilwale' row - 'Showstopper' Bajrang Dal causes losses worth lacs to theatres
• Mangaluru: Case filed against Bajrang Dal for stopping 'Dilwale' screening
• Mangaluru: Intolerance comment - Bajrang Dal raids theatres, stops SRK's 'Dilwale'