Yash Raj Films steps in; no screening of Fanaa in Gujarat

Producers have asked the owner of the only cinema hall showing Fanaa in the state to stop screening the film.

<arttitle>Yash Raj Films steps in; no screening of <i>Fanaa</i> in Gujarat</arttitle>

AHMEDABAD: Screening of Aamir Khan starrer Fanaa has been withdrawn on Monday from a theatre in Jamnagar, the only cinema hall showing the movie in Gujarat, following a self immolation bid by a man protesting against screening of the movie.
Yash Raj Films has requested them to stop screening of the movie following the self-immolation by the youth, the owner of 'Ambar' theatre Vimal Madam said.
"Following their direction, we have decided to withdraw the film from theaters," he said.
Madam said they are not interested in earning money in such a way when a man is forced to commit suicide.

Manager of the 'Ambar', Mansur Sheikh said representatives of Yash Raj films had called up from Mumbai and had asked them to stop screening the movie with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the condition of Pravin Joshi (30), who tried to immolate himself inside the toilet of a cinema theatre in Jamnagar to protest the screening of Fanaa, was critical but stable.
Senior doctor of Guru Govindsinh Hospital Abhishek Soni, who is examining Joshi, "at present he is stable as he is conscious and is able to talk."

BJP workers are staging a sit-in at the Lal Bangalow chowk of Jamnagar on Monday.
"We will later take out a rally up to Amber cinema hall and burn effigy of Congress as Vimal Madam who is screening the film due to backing of Congress MP Vikram Madam," BJP state youth wing secretary Umang Pandya said.
Meanwhile, the BJP has also decided to hold state-wide protests against the screening of the film. Sit-ins will be held in all district headquarters of the state, party sources said.
Pravin, hailing from Rajkot, had told the police that he immolated himself for "the cause of Narmada" and "make people of Gujarat aware of the enemies of the dam project."
The film was opposed in Gujarat even before it was released on May 26 and there have been numerous demonstrations led by youth BJP activists.
Activists also disrupted a private screening of the movie on Saturday night at the Surat Tennis club and damaged the premises where it was being shown.
The Multiplex Owners Association has been adamantly opposed to showing the movie till the actor "apologise" for taking a stand on the Narmada Dam issue "against the interests" of the people of Gujarat.

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