<p>Several moviegoers in Karnataka may not be able to watch Hindi movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ for at least a week as it is set to go off most screens from Thursday, making way for late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s last movie ‘James’. </p>.<p>The Chethan Kumar-directorial will hit the screen on March 17 on the occasion of the actor’s birthday.</p>.<p>Several exhibitors expressed helplessness to continue screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’ on the ground that certain factors were committed even before the Hindi movie’s release on March 11.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-legislative-council-witnesses-uproar-over-screening-of-the-kashmir-files-1091457.html" target="_blank">Karnataka Legislative Council witnesses uproar over screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’</a></strong></p>.<p>Resumption of screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’ depends on the response that ‘James’ evokes, they said. </p>.<p>“The Hindi movie will continue to be screened in some multiplexes, despite the release of ‘James’. Right from Day One, it is being screened mostly in multiplexes. Only a few single theatres are screening the movie. Most multiplexes and all single-screen theatres will show ‘James’ from Thursday,” Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Association president K V Chandrashekar told <em><span class="italic">DH</span></em>.</p>.<p>“We are in a dilemma. We are facing pressure from ‘some persons’ not to stop the Hindi movie’s screening. We can’t go against the wishes of the late actor’s fans by dropping the Kannada movie,” a leading exhibitor said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/the-kashmir-files-has-rattled-ecosystem-that-wanted-to-bury-truth-pm-modi-1091542.html" target="_blank">'The Kashmir Files' has rattled ecosystem that wanted to bury truth: PM Modi</a></strong></p>.<p>After the tax exemption announcement for ‘The Kashmir Files,’ several organisations are making bulk bookings, he added. </p>.<p>In Bengaluru, some theatres have increased the number of shows on Thursday to facilitate the audience to watch the movie.</p>.<p>“We have increased the number of shows from two to three,” K C N Mohan, owner, Navarang theatre, said.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Unprecedented excitement</strong></p>.<p>‘James’ has sent the late actor’s fans into a frenzy. Puneeth’s banners and huge cutouts have come up in most theatres. </p>.<p>“I am an ardent fan of Appu sir. The excitement to watch ‘James’ has been unprecedented even among his fans,” Bhuwaneshwar, a fan, said while helping the staff of Veeresh Cinemas on Magadi Road to raise cutouts of the actor’s superhit movies.</p>.<p>Over 90% of 630 single screen theatres and around 270 screens in about 70 multiplexes across Karnataka will screen ‘James’ on Thursday. In many places, the earliest shows are slated for 4 am. Shows will last till late night. </p>.<p>‘James’ will be released on over 400 screens across Karnataka, besides 21 countries, including 72 centres in the USA and 40 in Canada. </p>.<p>Tickets of 18 shows have already been sold out in five single screen theatres and three multiplexes in Mysuru, according to Chethan Kumar. </p>.<p>Tickets in many theatres in Bengaluru have already been sold out. Many multiplexes have decided to run around 22 shows on Thursday. </p>.<p>Arrangements are made to serve free food to the audience from morning till late night. Blood donation camps have also been<br />organised.</p>.<p>Dubbed in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, Puneeth’s movie also casts his two brothers Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar. Puneeth is cast in the role of a soldier for the first time in his career.</p>.<p>Most experts in the industry believe that ‘James’ is set to break all previous records in terms of collection on Day One. </p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>Several moviegoers in Karnataka may not be able to watch Hindi movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ for at least a week as it is set to go off most screens from Thursday, making way for late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s last movie ‘James’. </p>.<p>The Chethan Kumar-directorial will hit the screen on March 17 on the occasion of the actor’s birthday.</p>.<p>Several exhibitors expressed helplessness to continue screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’ on the ground that certain factors were committed even before the Hindi movie’s release on March 11.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-legislative-council-witnesses-uproar-over-screening-of-the-kashmir-files-1091457.html" target="_blank">Karnataka Legislative Council witnesses uproar over screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’</a></strong></p>.<p>Resumption of screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’ depends on the response that ‘James’ evokes, they said. </p>.<p>“The Hindi movie will continue to be screened in some multiplexes, despite the release of ‘James’. Right from Day One, it is being screened mostly in multiplexes. Only a few single theatres are screening the movie. Most multiplexes and all single-screen theatres will show ‘James’ from Thursday,” Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Association president K V Chandrashekar told <em><span class="italic">DH</span></em>.</p>.<p>“We are in a dilemma. We are facing pressure from ‘some persons’ not to stop the Hindi movie’s screening. We can’t go against the wishes of the late actor’s fans by dropping the Kannada movie,” a leading exhibitor said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/the-kashmir-files-has-rattled-ecosystem-that-wanted-to-bury-truth-pm-modi-1091542.html" target="_blank">'The Kashmir Files' has rattled ecosystem that wanted to bury truth: PM Modi</a></strong></p>.<p>After the tax exemption announcement for ‘The Kashmir Files,’ several organisations are making bulk bookings, he added. </p>.<p>In Bengaluru, some theatres have increased the number of shows on Thursday to facilitate the audience to watch the movie.</p>.<p>“We have increased the number of shows from two to three,” K C N Mohan, owner, Navarang theatre, said.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Unprecedented excitement</strong></p>.<p>‘James’ has sent the late actor’s fans into a frenzy. Puneeth’s banners and huge cutouts have come up in most theatres. </p>.<p>“I am an ardent fan of Appu sir. The excitement to watch ‘James’ has been unprecedented even among his fans,” Bhuwaneshwar, a fan, said while helping the staff of Veeresh Cinemas on Magadi Road to raise cutouts of the actor’s superhit movies.</p>.<p>Over 90% of 630 single screen theatres and around 270 screens in about 70 multiplexes across Karnataka will screen ‘James’ on Thursday. In many places, the earliest shows are slated for 4 am. Shows will last till late night. </p>.<p>‘James’ will be released on over 400 screens across Karnataka, besides 21 countries, including 72 centres in the USA and 40 in Canada. </p>.<p>Tickets of 18 shows have already been sold out in five single screen theatres and three multiplexes in Mysuru, according to Chethan Kumar. </p>.<p>Tickets in many theatres in Bengaluru have already been sold out. Many multiplexes have decided to run around 22 shows on Thursday. </p>.<p>Arrangements are made to serve free food to the audience from morning till late night. Blood donation camps have also been<br />organised.</p>.<p>Dubbed in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, Puneeth’s movie also casts his two brothers Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar. Puneeth is cast in the role of a soldier for the first time in his career.</p>.<p>Most experts in the industry believe that ‘James’ is set to break all previous records in terms of collection on Day One. </p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
