MNS stalls ‘Billu’ screening in Kurla

MUMBAI: Activists of the MNS transport wing on Tuesday staged a protest against a song in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Billu, forcing a theatre in Kurla to stop the screening of the film. Within a few hours of the demonstration, party chief Raj Thackeray called up TOI to say that the “MNS has nothing to do with the protests”.

The agitation, which was led by Chintu Shaikh, an MNS member from Kurla, was allegedly conducted at the behest of party vice-president Haji Arafat Shaikh. Chintu claimed that he had the blessings of Raj Thackeray and was opposing a song picturised in the film.

It is not the first time that an objection is being raised against the song “Marjaani” in the film. On the day of release, a group had protested outside G7 multiplexes. They apparently were not happy with the words, “rab ke hazoor mein kasmein bhi khaali, duniya ki aoni paoni kasmein nibha di’ which they believe, insults Prophet Mohammed.

“The song has hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community as there are certain verses, which are objectionable,” said Chintu. On Tuesday, he submitted a letter (on a MNS letterhead) to the manager of Kalpana Talkies in Kurla (West) asking the latter to stop screening of the film.

“The manager quickly refunded money to those who had bought tickets and has withdrawn the film,” he said, adding that similar protests were carried out in other parts of the state, including Nashik and Malegaon. “We want the film to change the verses and Irrfan Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Gulzar to issue an apology.”

Reacting to the protest, Irrfan Khan said, “It is so silly. There is nothing that is objectionable in the song. Besides, Shah Rukh Khan has already clarified the matter.”

When informed that his superiors were not aware of the protest, Chintu said it was sad that some members of the party were not supporting the agitation. “It is a genuine protest and we are doing it peacefully. We hope to get support from every MNS member,” he added.

A spokesperson from Rajgad, the MNS headquarters, said the agitation was a “personal one” and had nothing to do with the party. When contacted, MNS cine workers’ association president Ameya Khopkar also said he was unaware of the demonstration.

It may be recalled that a few days before the release of the film, the hairdressers’ association had objected to the title of the film, which forced Khan to delete the word “barber” from the film.

Source: The Times Of India