The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : First day, first show…

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 16, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

First day, first show…

K.V. Subramanya

Police frisked all those entering the halls before every show

HERO WORSHIP: A Rajnikanth fan shouting slogans at Nataraj cinema on the first day of the Tamil film ‘Sivaji — The Boss’ in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Bursting of firecrackers, breaking of coconuts and distribution of sweets by frenzied fans near the cinema halls marked the release of the much-awaited Rajnikanth-starrer Sivaji-The Boss in Bangalore on Friday.

Huge posses of policemen were deployed near the cinemas in view of the sabre-rattling by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike did not deter the fans from thronging cinema halls and multiplexes in their thousands.

Although the police had a tough time controlling frantic fans, who jumped queues and spilled on to roads, no untoward incidents were reported. However, fans were caned near Ajanta when they rushed into the hall even as the matinee crowd was coming out. Traffic around all cinemas screening Sivaji-The Boss was affected.

At many cinemas, including Nataraj in Seshadripuram and Urvashi on Lalbagh Road, diehard fans poured milk from sachets on Rajnikanth’s posters and hoarding. Besides garlanding the posters, the fans lit camphor and offered coconuts. Some tipsy fans were seen kissing the posters near the cinema halls.

Good collection

At some of the cinemas, the police frisked people before allowing them in, confiscating coins, cigarettes, lighters and matchboxes. Nobody complained. They emptied their pockets and hurried to their seats.

A police officer on duty handed over a carton full of coins to the manager and suggested that he deposit the money in the hundi of a nearby shrine. The gatekeepers’ nicotine levels must have gone up considerably even as they d ipped into the freebies.

While hardly any women and children were seen at the morning show, there were some at the matinee show. Padma (65) of Marutisevanagar was the first in the queue at Nataraj. “I have watched all Rajnikanth movies first day, first show. As I did not get the ticket for the morning show, I bought the ticket for the matinee show by paying Rs. 300,” she told The Hindu.

The one standing behind Padma was Rahul, a Class VI student from Kengeri Satellite Town, who turned a Rajni fan after watching Chandramukhi. He was very particular about watching the movie on Friday. “So, I paid Rs. 600 and bo ught two tickets,” said Rahul’s father, looking visibly stressed out.

Not all late-comers could afford a go at the black-market tickets that went as high as Rs. 1,500 each. There were some like Muniswamy of Avalahalli, who earns a living by collecting old newspapers and bottles. Standing at the Eshwari cinema in Banashankari III Stage, he told The Hindu that he had been scrimping for two weeks to watch the movie on the first day itself.

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