Patna: Amid tight security provided by police and anti-riot force, Padmaavat received a tepid response in Patna on Monday but picked up pace later, running to packed shows that set cash registers ringing and spread cheer among cinema hall owners.

The first show of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie, which had seen violent protests by the Rajput Karni Sena members, was held in Patna by Cinepolis multiplex located at P&M Mall at 9.30am with a security cover by police personnel to thwart any attempt to stop the screening or vandalise the theatre.

As not many people had booked tickets in advance, the multiplex officials hovered eagerly around the current booking counters to see viewers trickling in. "The response to the first show was a bit dull, but all shows after 11am are going houseful. There is no problem or threat. Demand for the tickets of 3D shows is more than the 2D shows. We think that the majority of film viewers are going to watch it," Cinepolis Patna manager Ranjeet Sharma said.

However, Mona and Elphinstone grappled to screen the movie as they are located bang next to Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan, where most of the demonstrations staged by the Karni Sena took place. The shows could start only from 3.10pm despite heavy presence of the police, which were deployed with anti-riot vehicles and fire tenders.

"We could have started the shows from morning itself, but things got delayed due to fear about the safety of the cinema halls that are right on the roadside and have a glass facade. We finally opted for the matinee show to launch Padmaavat at our halls," an official of Mona and Elphinstone, which are under the same management, said.

The first show at Mona did not go houseful as only around 70 per cent tickets were sold till 3.30pm. The ticket rates for Padmaavat were priced steeply. Cinepolis opened its booking counters at Rs 350 each, while Mona and Elphinstone charged Rs 200 per ticket. However, this did not deter viewers, a majority of whom were youths. "The ticket rates burnt a hole in my pocket but I came to watch the movie out of curiosity and to show that I am not afraid of any organisation that issues threats and diktats," said Vishal Kumar, an engineering student.

The Karni Sena lay low over the screenings in the state capital, which came after the movie was launched at 11 different cities and town gradually between January 25 and 28.

"I am away from Bihar due to some work," said Rajput Karni Sena's Bihar unit president Dhirendra Kumar Singh. "We haven't climbed down from our demand to ban Padmaavat and our members may stage sit-in protests against the movie in Patna. The administration is protecting the cinema halls and we don't believe in violence."