'KGF' hits screens, set to smash records

Kannada movie KGF, starring ‘Rocking Star’ Yash, hit the screens on Friday as scheduled without any disruptions even as the petitioners withdrew their plea to stay its release.

Plaintiffs Venkatesh G and S Anand, who had filed a suit before the city civil court seeking a stay on the film’s screening, filed a memo withdrawing their plea. More than 2,000 shows were scheduled on Day One for the much-anticipated movie in Bengaluru city alone.

Cinegoers thronged theatres across the state from early hours, with the first show scheduled in Mysuru at 1 am.

Though a few people were anxious about the movie’s release, they were relived after the early morning shows were screened smoothly. In Bengaluru, many single screens organised the first show or fan show at 4 am. “We had booked tickets three days back. When there were reports about the court stalling the release, we were confused and in a state of shock. However, we thank the producer and distributors for not betraying us,” Puneet, a fan of Yash told DH.

However, a few fans were upset over the last-minute legal hitch. Following the court order, Yash fans protested throughout the night but relented soon after the screening began. Police security was provided to all single screens and multiplexes on Friday.

The film is expected to break all records in the Kannada film industry by running to packed houses across the state. “Besides Day One, advance bookings were also done over the weekend. KGF is likely to set a new record in Sandalwood. This would also beat the previous record by Raajkumara,” a top distributor from Gandhinagar told DH. Producer Vijay Kiragandur was unavailable for comment.