Karan wakes up to MNS reality

MUMBAI: Filmmaker Karan Johar, producer of a movie called "Wake Up Sid", had to wake up to the politics of regionalism on Friday when he had to ���apologise��� to Raj Thackeray, the self appointed guardian of Marathi pride, for calling Mumbai ���Bombay��� in his recent film.

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma, is the latest offering from Dharma Productions. "Wake Up Sid" has been released in 42 cinema halls in Mumbai and another 150 in the rest of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists launched protests across the state to protest the use of the word ���Bombay��� instead of Mumbai in Mr Johar's latest movie as soon as it was released.

Even as angry activists vociferously protested the movie and tried to disrupt its screening, a harried Mr Johar called on MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his Shivaji Park residence. "He has tendered an unconditional apology for this inadvertent mistake," the MNS spokesperson said later.

Taking into consideration his ���apology���, Raj Thackeray directed his supporters to stop the agitation against the movie. "Karan has realised his mistake," he said. According to the MNS chief MR Johar has sought time to "rectify the error".
"We shall wait for two-three days before the next step," Mr Thackeray told mediapersons outside his residence.

To a query, he said that not only the directors, but all persons connected with film making and other fields must ensure that Mumbai is used in place of ���Bombay���. "When the names of other cities like Delhi and Chennai are not changed, why should Mumbai be change to ���Bombay���?" he thundered.

According to MNS spokesperson Mr Johar explained to Raj the complications about deleting and replacing 'Bombay' with Mumbai since over 700 prints have been sent world-wide for a simultaneous release.

"However, Karan Johar assured the MNS chief that he would be able to insert an apology at the start of the movie. We shall wait and watch. If the apology is not shown as promised, we will take up the issue again," he said.