Suspense continues over release of ‘Padmaavat’ in Indore

Indore: Suspense prevailed over the release of “Padmaavat” in the city on Thursday, although police have assured security to the cinema halls screening the controversial film.

Film distributors and theatre owners in Indore had on Tuesday agreed to screen the film after the state government assured to provide adequate security cover.

However, it is no yet clear how many cinema halls or multiplexes will screen the movie here or elsewhere in the state on Thursday.

Instead of the posters of “Padamaavat”, those of Akshay Kumar-starrer film “Padman”, which is scheduled to release on February 9, are visible across the city.

Theatre owners in Madhya Pradesh had last month decided not to screen filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh following large-scale protests and bandhs in several places.

Director General of Police, Indore Range, H C Mishra told reporters that it was now up to the cinema halls owners to release the movie or not.

“We will provide adequate security cover at the cinema halls that screen the movie,” he assured.

“We have already assured the film distributors and cinema hall owners that law and order will be maintained during the release of “Padmaavat”,” he added.

An office-bearer of central circuit cine association said, “If everything goes well, “Padmaavat” would be released in multiplexes tomorrow.”

Secretary of Bhopal Cinema Association, Azizuddin, had on Tuesday said that within three hours of the release of the film in Indore, it would be screened in the state capital.

Of the 361 cinema halls across Madhya Pradesh, owners of 200 theatres are eagerly waiting to screen the movie, he had said.