Over 1 mn cinegoers defy protesters

New Delhi/Mumbai: One million people watched "Padmaavat" on its opening day, the film's maker Viacom 18 Motion said on Thursday as it released across the country amid tight security at cinema halls.

Fringe groups like the Karni Sena continued protests in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, blocking roads and holding rallies and union Minister VK Singh has suggested that the states initiate dialogue with the protesters. The Supreme Court has said it will hear on Monday, a petition that seeks action against four states which failed to control rampaging protesters on Wednesday despite a court order.

Many of those who watched the film condemned the violence of the last few weeks and said there is nothing objectionable in it.

The Rs 150 crore film was released in 4,000 screens across the country, a source in the trade said.

The Multiplex Association of India said the film would not be screened in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa in view of the tenuous law and order situation.

Initial reports suggested a good business for the film.

The tension was palpable with security personnel mounting vigil at malls, cineplexes and single screen halls but the day passed off without any major incident.

A day after a school bus in Gurgaon was attacked by stone-pelting protesters, audiences defied threats of violence to stream into theatres to watch the opening day shows of the period film.

In Gurgaon top schools including Pathways, Shiv Nadar School, Delhi Public School and GD Goenka World School, remained closed after protesters threw stones at a school bus on Wednesday.

Thirty-three cinema halls in nine districts of Haryana screened 'Padmaavat' while the police arrested 23 persons in Gurgaon and two in Kurukshetra, state DGP B S Sandhu said on Thursday.

Asked about Rajput leader Suraj Pal Amu, who had reportedly offered a Rs 10 crore bounty for beheading "Padmaavat" actor Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sandhu said he was not allowed to move outside his house in Gurgaon.

Neighbouring Punjab was relatively more relaxed.

In Uttar Pradesh's temple town of Varanasi, a man attempted to immolate himself outside a mall but was stopped from doing so.

Additional Director General (Law and Order) Anand Kumar directed all district police chiefs to ensure that the force remains alert with anti-riot gear.

Some places in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh saw sporadic violence though the film was not released there.

Arterial roads were blocked, shops vandalised and bike rallies were taken out in parts of Rajasthan.

About two dozen shops were damaged in stone-pelting incidents in Udaipur.

In Madhya Pradesh, educational institutions remained open but commercial establishments were closed in places such as Indore, Ujjain and Gwalior.

In Gujarat, however, the bandh called by the Karni Sena evoked a tepid response from educational institutions, offices and markets open in most parts of the state.

In some parts of the country, multiplex owners took the precaution of not putting up posters to ward off trouble.

And at the Satyam multiplex in west Delhi, the entire front row was occupied by uniformed security men. Bouncers were on hand too in case of trouble breaking out.

But that did little to curb the enthusiasm of the intrepid Bollywood fan.

While the occupancy in Delhi was around 60 to 70 percent for the first show at 9 am, in Mumbai it was lower at 40-45 percent.

As the row took on the inevitable political overtones with Congress leader Digvijaya Singh saying that films which are not based on historical facts should not be made and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal condemning those "who pelt our children with stones", the film's makers were quiet.

However, an emotional Deepika said in Mumbai that she was overwhelmed and confident that "Padmaavat" would get an "earth-shattering response". See also inside