MP theatre owners meet CM, decide not to screen 'Padmaavat'

Theatre owners in Madhya Pradesh today decided not to screen controversial film "Padmaavat" as the state witnessed protests and bandh in several places against the period drama.

The state government, however, said it was ready to provide security if the theatre owners wanted to screen the movie.

A delegation of cinema and multiplex owners, under the aegis of the Central Cine Circuit Association (CCCA), met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh and later announced that they would not screen the film as of now.

"During the meeting, we conveyed to the chief minister that the cinema hall owners are not going to release the movie in Madhya Pradesh as protests against the film have burgeoned," threatre owner, Azizuddin, who was a part of the delegation, said after the meeting.

"We are also concerned about the public sentiments," he said.

Azizuddin, who is the secretary of the Bhopal Cinema Association and a member of the CCCA, said the association would again review the situation after some days to see if the theatre owners were willing to screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama.

"We will provide security if the cinema halls or the multiplexes are ready to release the movie in the state. They themselves have decided not to release the movie," state Home Minister Bhupendra Singh told reporters.

The Multiplex Association of India, which represents about 75% of multiplex owners, yesterday said that its members would not screen the film in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa.