Protest Marks Release of Pathan in Bhagalpur Cinema Hall

By Avijit Biswas

Bhagalpur: Amidst protests by Bajrang Dal and Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers, the Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer Hindi movie Pathan was released here today in a local cinema hall.

Assembling at the cinema hall this morning where the movie was scheduled to release, the workers and supporters of both organizations resorted to protesting against the release of the movie.

stressing that nothing demeaning concerning Sanatan Dharma would be tolerated anymore; the Bajrang Dal and VHP workers opposed the showing of the movie. Earlier last evening, the posters of the movie were torn by Bajrang Dal workers in the same movie house to register protest against its release.

Apprehending protest during the release of the film, security arrangements in the cinema hall were tightened today. The premise of the cinema hall was cleared of protestors by security personnel before the start of the show.

However, the audience response to the film’s first showing was underwhelming. The presence of female audience members was almost negligible in the first show. According to the cinema hall staff, the low turnout in the first show was due to the audience’s fear of trouble during the film’s release.