Wrote to theatres without knowing film title,says MNS MLA

The matter came to light when MNS workers vandalised theatres on Grant Road and Boisar to protest the screening of the movie,alleging that the title of the film was provocative and hurt the sentiments of locals.

“I know Mhatre as he was a former Shiv Sena Shakha pramukh from Chunabhatti area. He had purchased the Bhojpuri film and wanted my help in ensuring a slot for it in Palace Talkies in Byculla and Super Talkies on Grant Road. I tried calling the managers of the theatres but couldn’t reach them. I then asked my office staff to draft a letter addressing the managers of the theatres and asking them to cooperate. However,I committed a mistake in not asking Mhatre about the title of the film. He too did not inform me. It was only when some of our party workers informed me that I got to know about it,” said Nandgaonkar.

He said,“My intention was only to help Marathi manoos. I will never promote or facilitate screening of a film having such provocative title as it hurts the sentiments of our people. We have no other objection,but the title Ek Bihari… Sau Pe Bhaari will not be tolerated.”

Ek Bihari… Sau Pe Bhaari becomes Ek Nirahua… Sarfira

After MNS workers allegedly ransacked a theatre on Grant Road on August 31 for screening Ek Bihari… Sau Pe Bhaari,the producer has changed the title. In a letter dated September 4,the film’s producer Ravi Shankar Sharma said he had no objection to the title change. The film will be screened across Bombay territory (including Mumbai,parts of Maharashtra ,Gujarat and Goa) with a new title Ek Nirahua… Sarphira. “In the film,the lead character fights hundreds of goons to save his love interest,thus the title Ek Bihari… Sau Pe Bhaari. However,I agree the title is not appropriate in Maharashtra for various reasons and we have changed it,” said Kesarinath Mhatre,the distributor of the film.