'Padmaavat' row: People flock to theatres amid tight security

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" finally opened today amid tight security and palpable tension but audiences streamed in to theatres across the country to watch the film that has the nation agog.

Initial reports suggested good business for the film, which has been the focal point of protests by various Rajput groups, which allege that it distorts their history and defames their queen Padmavati.

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

Shows later in the day, including late night, were almost packed. Given that it's a long weekend, trade analysts were hopeful that business would be good.

"The response has been positive so far. We are hopeful it will increase during the day and in the evening," Mumbai-based Nitin Datar, a member of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India, told PTI.


Many of those who watched the film condemned the violence of the last few weeks, particularly the stoning of a schoolbus in Gurgaon yesterday, and said the film has nothing objectionable in it.

In some halls, like the Satyam cineplex in west Delhi, the entire front row was occupied by uniformed security personnel. The hall also had bouncers.

The Rs 150 crore Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film is a period drama based on 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic "Padmavat".


Deepika Padukone plays Rani Padmavati in the film, which also features Shahid Kapoor as Maha Rawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji.

A Rajput viewer, who requested anonymity, made it a point to watch the first show in Mumbai's Cinepolis and said it was an "excellent" effort by Bhansali and actually glorifies their culture.

He also said there was nothing offensive in the movie, or in the "Ghoomar" song.