'MNIK' opens to packed houses in Kolkata, fans burn Thackeray's effigy

Kolkata, Feb 12 (IANS) Angry fans burnt effigies of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in several parts of the city as cine buffs queued up outside ticket counters in Kolkata and elsewhere in West Bengal to watch Shah Rukh Khan's "My Name Is Khan" on the opening day Friday.

Several Shah Rukh Khan fan clubs led the protests against Thackeray before theatres at various points in the city, protesting against the Shiv Sena's bid to scuttle the movie's release. The movie has been released in over 130 theatres and multiplexes in eastern India.

They demanded that Shiv Sena bosses watch the movie before spreading hatred against it.

"Only a few front row seats for the evening shows are still left. For the late evening and night shows also only a handful of tickets remain unsold so far," an executive at the multiplex chain Forum told IANS around noon.

As movie buffs queued up before ticket counters of mutiplexes and singe-screen theatres in the city, Shah Rukh admirers came with his garlanded posters and offered coconuts to wish the film an auspicious run.

"I have got tickets for two shows, one in the morning, and another in the afternoon. I will spend the day with SRK today (Friday)," said Subhas Pal, who seemed thrilled at Kajol and SRK pairing up on-screen after eight years.

"This is the best movie of SRK till date. It's very sensitive. Both Shah Rukh and Kajol were brilliant," said Anindya Sen, a youth from south Kolkata, as he came out of a multiplex after the morning show.

"I didn't find a single objectionable scene or dialogue in the film. It's great," said Rupashree Chatterjee, during the interval of a show in a south Kolkata multiplex.

The Shiv Sena has come out against the release of "My Name is Khan" after Shah Rukh refused to apologise for suggesting that Pakistani cricketers should have been picked for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Click the Movie button below for more info:
My Name is Khan