Highlights
- Screening of Prakash Jha's controversial Hindi film Aarakshan was cancelled in two city theatres today after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers staged a protest demanding a ban on the movie.
- Urvashi and Vision Cinemas managements said they took the step after being asked by the police, who reached the spot following the demonstrations.
- "We cancelled the first two shows of the day after protests. Sunday is usually the busiest day in cinema halls ... we are facing major financial losses," an official from Vision Cinemas said.
Screening of Prakash Jha's controversial Hindi film
Aarakshan was cancelled in two city theatres today after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers staged a protest demanding a ban on the movie.
Urvashi and Vision Cinemas managements said they took the step after being asked by the police, who reached the spot following the demonstrations.
"We cancelled the first two shows of the day after protests. Sunday is usually the busiest day in cinema halls ... we are facing major financial losses," an official from Vision Cinemas said.
First two shows were also cancelled at Urvashi theatre.
More than 500 BSP workers, carrying flags, staged demonstrations in front of the theatres and also outside chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda's official residence 'Krishna', where they submitted a memorandum demanding a ban on screening of the film.
Since Gowda was away from Bangalore, special officer Somashekhar received the memorandum on his behalf.
The movie starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpai is based on the issue of caste-based reservation in educational institutions.
BSP state general secretary R Muniyappa said that
Aarakshan has scenes degrading the concept of reservation.
"Already Uttar Pradesh has banned the controversial film for the same reason. Our party appeals to the state government to ban the film."
"Some dialogues are anti-Dalit and provocative. The government should ban the film to maintain law and order," Muniyappa said.
BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday ordered a ban on the film across the state.
Andhra Pradesh had ordered suspension of the screening, but later lifted the ban after some minor modifications.