MNIK: Most theatre owners play safe…

While this multiplex decided not to show the film after a few Sena activists burnt MNIK posters outside the theatre on Wednesday,phone calls enquiring about MNIK haven’t stopped at City Pride multiplex where the management has been ready with an alternative plan for the past four days. “We are ready with both options. To fill the MNIK slots,we are ready with increased number of shows of other movies — Wolfman,Avatar,Ishqiya,Harishchandrachi Factory and Natarang,” said Hrishikesh Chaphalkar,partner,City Pride. “But all these films are over three- four weeks old and the collections would be reduced to 50 per cent because of MNIK not being shown.”

The story is no different at Gold Big Cinemas,which never started advance booking for the film. Now,it has decided not to screen the film irrespective of the distributors’ decision. “We are not screening the film at all in Pune,” said a manager at Gold Big Cinemas,adding,“This was certainly a big release both film lovers and theatre owners were waiting for. We were expecting an average collection of Rs 6-7 lakh per multiplex on day one. Now,with the old schedules,the collections won’t cross Rs 1-2 lakh. There is also the issue of not many coming to theatres because of the Sena scare.”

Movie listings is the first point of reference film enthusiasts check before going for a film and though agencies had sent advertisements for MNIK to newspapers,many were unsure about the actual release status of the film. “We have received no formal communication from Fox Entertainment,the official distributors of the film and that’s the reason we have put the advertisements in all newspapers. While we are keeping our fingers crossed,no-show of MNIK would mean a loss of Rs 50,000- 60,000 for 27 theatre owners across the city on advertisements alone,” said Tarang Salunke,proprietor of an city advertising agency.