Govt condemns attack on Husain film premiere sets

ahmedabad: the gujarat government has said wednesday's attack on the venue of the premiere show of artist m.f. husain's debut film "gajagamini" is "not acceptable" and has sullied the state's image. "the state government has taken the incident seriously. i have ordered strict action against those found responsible for the nonsensical act," home minister haren pandya told ians.a group of about 20 youths had attacked city pulse multiplex, the venue of the premiere on the outskirts of the city, wednesday afternoon. they destroyed husain's paintings that recreated a scene from the film, which stars madhuri dixit, and vandalized the theater. police have been deployed at the multiplex. the group apparently attacked husain's work because he had painted hindu goddess of learning saraswati in the nude a few years ago. members of the right-wing hindu organization bajrang dal had vandalized husain-doshi gufa, a permanent exhibition of husain's works in the heart of the city, in 1996. the exhibition venue was named after husain, who painted the walls and ceiling of the cave-like structure, and balkrishna doshi, the renowned architect who designed it. the structure has since been renamed amdavad ni gufa. "i am confused about the attack," doshi said of wednesday's incident. "is there anything hindu or muslim about the film?" he asked. the multiplex has cancelled the premiere show and postponed the screening of the film indefinitely. the film was to be screened from friday. pandya said the police have the registration numbers of the vehicles in which the attackers came to the multiplex. "the police have been told to find out from the regional transport office the name and address of the owners of the vehicles and pin down the culprits. people have the right to protest in a democracy, but not by damaging life and property. there are other means to protest. they could take out a rally or sit in protest. this (vandalism) is not acceptable," pandya said. "gaja gamini" has already premiered in mumbai and berlin. however, husain wanted a special show for his maiden feature film in ahmedabad as his father is buried here. he shares a special relationship with the city and visits it frequently. staff at city pulse multiplex said husain had recreated a scene from the film and was here tuesday finalizing the set. he had then flown back to mumbai and was expected to be in ahmedabad wednesday evening to give finishing touches. husain has now postponed his trip, they said. (ians)