HYDERABAD: A few multiplexes and cinema theatres in Hyderabad on Wednesday stopped screening of Allu Arjun-starrer Arya 2 following a call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Osmania University to boycott the movie in protest against the proposed hunger strike by Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) chief K Chiranjeevi for a unified Andhra Pradesh.
The JAC gave a call to boycott the films starring Chiranjeevi’s family members. At a few places, workers of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) forced closure of shows of the film in the city.
“Though no formal instructions were issued to stop the screening, we decided to stop it on our own,” a staffer of Cine Planet multiplex at Kompally said. The Cine Planet cancelled all shows on Wednesday.
“A few TRS activists and affiliated wings came to the theatre around 10.30 am and demanded that the theatre be closed as Allu Arjun’s Arya 2 was being screened. We decided to stop the screening of the movie temporarily,” manager of Arjun theatre at Kukatpally, Ranganath said.
Arya 2 is being screened across 17 theatres in Hyderabad including Sandhya, Manju, Venkatareddy, Sri Ramulu, Sarada, Eswar, Bhujanga, Nagendra, Sri Krishna including Prasad’s IMAX, Big Cinema and Cine Planet multiplex theatres. Most of the theatre managements have sought the services of private security guards to screen the film.
Ramana, manager of Bhujanga theatre, where Arya 2 is being screened said that the theatre management plans to hire more security personnel from a private agency to continue the shows.
“About 50 per cent of the tickets were sold out for the morning and matinee shows and we screened the film today (Wednesday). However, we will be hiring more security personnel as a pre-cautionary measure,” he added.
Allu Arjun and Kajal Agarwal fans made a beeline in front of ticket counters for Arya 2 at Prasad IMAX, Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, Sri Ramulu theatre at Moosapet.
“There was no information about the boycott call for the movie. At least 60 per cent of the tickets were sold out for morning and matinee shows while we are giving tickets for first and second shows of Arya 2,” one of the staff members in Prasad’s Imax said.
Konisetti Raghu, who had bought tickets for first show at Prasad’s felt that political parties were trying to politicise even entertainment centres.
“People living in the State have been divided on regional lines. Why are political leaders spoiling our entertainment spots as well,” he wondered.
expresshyd@expressbuzz.com