CCCC sneaks a silent march over Gujarat

Haresh Pandya

Contrary to expectations of some self-styled representatives of the moral police, the much-awaited controversial Bollywood blockbuster, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, has created ripples instead of riots in Gujarat when it was released on the auspicious day of Holi.

Although the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal and the Youth Wing of the Bharatiya Janta Party had earlier threatened to stall the screening of CCCC, and also warn the theatre owners of dire consequences, no untoward incidents have been reported from any of the Gujarat cinema halls in which the film is being screened.

As a precautionary measure, the theatre owners have sought police protection and there have been cops aplenty at all the cinema halls in Gujarat screening the film starring Salman Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherji, among others.

The Bombay High Court's order that the earnings from the film, including the overseas rights, should go to the Government of India has probably smoothened the path for CCCC.

The film, already enjoying tremendous publicity in the wake of the controversy surrounding it and the arrest of financier Bharat Shah, has been doing brisk business in the state. The film is being shown at three theatres in Ahmedabad, two in Rajkot as well as some other towns in Gujarat.

For the movie buffs, it hardly matters who has financed the film or where the money will go. All they want is entertainment and fun with their favourite stars on the silver screen for three hours.

"I am least bothered about the controvery this film has triggered. I like Rani Mukherji and Preity Zinta -- so I've come to watch it," said Rupa Dave, a first year B Sc student, to rediff.com outside Dharam Cinema in Rajkot, just before going into the cinema hall to watch the film.

Pankaj Kothari, a 28-year-old businessman, of Ahmedabad, echoed Dave's sentiments: "I think this whole issue has been blown out of proportion. If the film personalities are bad, our politicians are not angels either. I watch films because I am a film enthusiast. Who finances the film does not matter to me. Frankly, I was not even aware of these things until the Bharat Shah affair came into light."

The people of Gujarat, who had been paying scant respect to films and other forms of entertainment following the devastating earthquake, have surprisingly greeted CCCC warmly. The handsome collection in all the theatres in the state, especially in Ahmedabad and Rajkot indicates that things are slowly getting back to normal again.