After ‘Padmavati’, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ faces political threat

Salman Khan starrer faces controversy two days prior to its release

MUMBAI: The upcoming Salman Khan starrer Tiger Zinda Hai has run into a political controversy barely two days ahead of its scheduled December 22 release. While the Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Sena (MNCS) has warned cinema owners against booking all shows for Tiger Zinda Hai and denying slots to two Marathi films, other parties like the Congress and the Shiv Sena also joined the controversy with their own party lines.

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MNCS President Amey Khopkar told the media that the screening of the movie should not be at the cost of the Marathi films, Deva and Gachhi. They must be allotted suitable prime time slots as well. "We are not against the release of any film, including Tiger Zinda Hai. Our objection is on why all the slots need to be reserved for just one film while all other films have no slots to exhibit their films," Khopkar said.


On Tuesday, the MNCS shot off letters to all cinemas, demanding proper prime time slots for the Marathi films. Failing to do so would agitate Salman’s film. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam has come out in favour of Tiger Zinda Hai but a party legislator Nitesh Rane has espoused the cause of the Marathi film industry. Shiv Sena has also toed a pro-Marathi line in this matter.

Terming the plight of Marathi film-makers "comparable to hawkers", Sena MP Sanjay Raut demanded that they should be given equal treatment in releasing their films. However, theatre owners are in a quandary since Tiger Zinda Hai is the first mega-budget film after several months and probably the last one this year. This comes in after protests and threats pushed back the release of the much-anticipated Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Padmavati to 2018.

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Khopkar also added that the MNCS which is part of the Raj Thackeray-led party would not tolerate the monopolising of theatres by Yashraj Films in this matter. "They should not forget that they do all their film shootings in Maharashtra. If this matter is not resolved amicably, we shall be forced to even stop their shoots," warned Khopkar. He termed it as a tragedy that Marathi filmmakers "have to beg" for screens in their home state because big film companies book all cinema halls in advance prior to exhibiting their films.

According to MNCS activists, nearly 95% of all shows in all the theatres in the state have been blocked by Tiger Zinda Hai for its Friday release. Thus, leaving others with unviable options like early morning or late night shows which are not well received. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Yashraj Films has stipulated all theatres to have at least five shows of Tiger Zinda Hai, hoping to lure cinema buffs and Salman’s fans during the Christmas holiday season.

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