Guwahati, Jan. 25: The withdrawal of Assamese movie Shakira Ahibo Bokul Tolor Bihu Loi from nearly 30 cinema theatres to screen Hindi biggies Kaabil and Raees triggered protests in at least four places in the state today.
At least three cinemas today decided to continue screening the film after a controversy was triggered by an "open letter" written by Himangshu Prasad Das, the director of Shakira, to Ulfa (I) chief Paresh Barua on the issue on his facebook page yesterday. Last evening, Barua had called up a local news channel saying that the movie should be continued in halls where it had audience.
Oikya Sena Asom, a newly formed public organisation, protested in front of Anuradha cinema here for withdrawing Shakira. "We strongly oppose removal of Shakira which has become popular. We want the state government to take steps," said Shahidul Islam, a leader of the organisation.
Supporters of actor Shah Rukh Khan, equipped with his posters, also assembled at Anuradha cinema to celebrate the release of Raees, prompting the district administration to deploy police personnel to thwart any untoward incident.
Bobbeeta Sarma, who is part of the Anuradha cinema management team, told The Telegraph that the producer/director of Shakira were told that they would get only five days because of Raaes and Kaabil.
"They even agreed to it, saying that they would release it once again at a later date. They came to us for the screening three-four days before the release while the process for the release/bookings for the two Bollywood movies had started three months back. This open letter, controversy was needless and unfortunate," she said.
Protests also took place at Biswanath Chariali (Bisw-anath district), Bongaigaon (Bongaigaon district) and Rangiya (Kamrup district) against withdrawal of Shakira. The artistes of Shakira also protested near Nehru Park here before addressing the media this evening.
Currently Shakira is running in 11 halls in the state, including three in Guwahati. Das said at least 30 halls should have screened the film considering its popularity in those halls. "I don't insist on screening Shakira in halls where people's response is poor. But it should be screened in halls where it is getting audience," he said.
The controversy has taken place despite the release dates of Kaabil being announced in February 2016 and that of Raees in December 2016.
Bani Das, a member of the Film Fraternity of Assam, said they want a hall to screen a movie for at least one week before taking any decision on its continuation. "We appeal to cinemas to continue screening Shakira for at least a week. We have also informed our stand to the distributor of the film," he said, adding that they are working with the state government for a policy for protection of Assamese movie.
Ulfa had banned screening of Hindi movies in Assam on November 15, 2003, alleging that Bollywood films "displayed vulgarity and polluted people's minds". Though halls screen Hindi movies, the outfit has not lifted the ban officially. Film fraternity had protested the ban.
Before Ulfa, Manipur outfit Revolutionary Peoples Front had, in September 2000, imposed a ban on Hindi films and the use of Hindi language. The ban continues till date. Even the Priyanka Chopra-starrer biopic on champion boxer and icon Mary Kom, a Rajya Sabha MP now, was not screened in Manipur when it was released in 2014.
An employee of Apsara cinema here said the response to Kaabil and Raees was not as expected. "Maybe the low response is because of Republic Day. We hope a better response from Friday," he said.
No untoward incident has been reported in any hall in the state because of withdrawal of Shakira.
