This is the Only Theatre in Madhya Pradesh Screening Padmaavat

Bhopal: Despite Supreme Court's order to release Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Padmaavat across India, the film is facing a tough time in Madhya Pradesh. Only one theatre in the state Miraj Cinema in Balaghat town has screened the movie on Thursday.

Other theatre owners in the state have refused to screen the film in order to respect ‘public sentiments’ and due to unavailability of prints from the distributors.

Miraj Cinema, a single screen theatre in Balaghat, around 430 km from Bhopal, screened four shows of the movie on Thursday from 2pm to 8pm. Around 1,000 people watched the movie.



“The administration had provided security at the shopping mall and multiplex since Thursday morning. But we were compelled to cancel four morning shows from 9.15am to 12.30 pm due to protests," said an employee of the theatre. However, later the theatre officials had discussions with the protesters after which the screening took place.

Sanjay Singh Kachhwah, president of Balaghat Rajput Samaj, told News18, that they allowed screening of the movie as Supreme Court had cleared decks for the flick and also some anti-social elements were trying to disturb law and order on pretext of protests.

“On Friday, some objectionable comments were posted on social media against the movie following which we decided that the screening be stopped to which the cinema owners agreed,” said Kachhwah, adding that the Balaghat Rajput Samaj would hand over a memorandum to the police in this connection.

Amit Sanghi, Superintendent of Police Balaghat, could not be reached for comments as he was busy in Republic Day arrangements.