Art, culture and youth affairs minister Vinay Bihari and actress Pakhi Hegde at Mona theatre on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, July 11: More than 70 MLAs, cutting across party lines, today turned up to watch Pyar Mohabbat Zindabad, the Bhojpuri movie produced and directed by art, culture and youth affairs department minister Vinay Bihari.

The 11 elected representatives gathered at Mona theatre to watch the special screening of the film made under the banner of Aadi Shaki Entertainment & Baidyanath Films.

Before the special show began, Vinay looked cheerful and received guests, mainly ministers and senior leaders, at the entrance. The film was scheduled to start at 6pm. However, it was delayed by half-an-hour in wait of chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and former chief minister Nitish Kumar. Both leaders, unfortunately, did not turn up but it did not make any difference to the MLAs. They enjoyed the film to the fullest while munching popcorn and sipping cold drinks.

Apart from professionals Pawan Singh and Pakhi Hegde in the lead roles, the centre of attraction was Khagaria strongman Ranvir Yadav, who reached the theatre with his two wives, Poonam Devi, the MLA from Khagaria, and Krishna Devi, who contested the general election on an RJD ticket but lost. All three have acted in the film.

Except Sumit Kumar Singh (Chakia), all the JDU MLAs who have acted in the film turned up. The cast included MLAs Rajesh Singh (Valmiki Nagar), Pradeep Kumar (Warsaliganj), Shravan Kumar (Nalanda) and Lalan Ram (Kutumba). On the other hand, BJP MLAs, who worked in the film and were present at the show, included Usha Vidyarthi (Paliganj), Bhagirathi Devi (Ramnagar), Shyamdeo Paswan (Bodhgaya) and Jawahar Prasad (Sasaram).

It was a proud moment for Vinay to bring leaders from different parties on one platform, while it was a jamboree for the MLAs and ministers whistling inside the theatre at every punch.

Vinay, the Independent MLA from Lauriya Assembly seat in West Champaran, said: “More than 700 Bhojpuri films have been have directed in the past 13 years. But except few, most of the films were not fit for family viewing owing to double meaning songs and dialogues. The film, which our MLAs are enjoying right now, is a complete family entertainer. Anybody can watch it. When I came up with the film script, no producer was ready to finance it. Finally, I decided to go ahead and not only directed but also produced the film to set an example. A good film can be directed without double meanings and nudity.”

BJP state unit president Mangal Pandey reached the theatre with his wife. “After a long time, I have come to watch any film. The last film I watched in the theatre was Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in 2011. Normally, we do not find time to watch movies in theatre. However, Vinayji requested us to come here,” he said.

Similarly, after 32 years, mines and geology minister Ram Lakhan Ram Raman entered a theatre to watch a film. “I do not remember the name of the film I watched in theatre 32 years ago. The only similarity was it was at the same theatre that I have come today with wife Snan Devi.”