Mumbai: Mumbai showed on Friday that the city's spirit will not be defeated by Shiv Sena's politics of threats when Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan released and released to packed multiplexes.
There were the odd incidents of stone pelting but as the day drew to a close Shiv Sena's decision to withdraw its agitation against the film showed that the politics of hate had lost the battle.
The Shiv Sena had been protesting against Shah Rukh Khan's statements backing Pakistani cricketers and was determined to prove that his film My Name Is Khan would be a no show in Mumbai.
Shiv Sena started the show but it's the Mumbaikar who wrote its climax with the film running to packed halls.
The day started with uncertainty looming large over whether or not My Name Is Khan would be release in Mumbai.
At Cinemax in Versova people started to take refund and go back even as the security set up was in place.
Mumbai Police force was out in full force to ensure that Shiv Sena didn't disrupt the screening but nervous exhibitors didn't seem to want to take any chances.
All morning shows of the movie were cancelled at theatres across the city
Movie buffs, looking forward to the big ticket SRK-Kajol-starrer, were angry that a political clash of egos was upsetting their plans.
"I'll throw a stone at the Shiv Sena. Who are they to throw stones at us?" said a movie fan.
"This is political gambit between Shiv Sena and the Congress and we are losing," said another
But by noon there was a twist in the tale. Fun Cinemas was the first to defy the Sena's diktat, followed by Inox where the Maharashtra Home minister RR Patil also watched the film.
"It's not about a political victory for the government. We will provide full security to those who want to see the movie. People should not be scared," assured Patil.
But the Sena wasn't taking things lying down with Sainiks pelting stones at Fun Cinemas in Andheri.
Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi personally halted screening at the Dadar Fame theatre.
"I heard the film was being screened here. So the Shiv Sainiks and I came to see. The manager assured us the film will not be screened today," claimed Joshi.
But the Mumbai police acted firmly and arrested several Sainiks.
By afternoon all major multiplexes decided to screen the film although with fewer shows on offer.
Many film personalities also showed up at the movies to show their support for Shah Rukh Khan.
Fast losing face, the Shiv Sena resorted to attacking car showrooms in Andheri and Chembur and forcing shops to down shutters in some parts of Mumbai.
But despite the sporadic violence My Name Is Khan got 100 per cent opening at many theatres, which clearly showed Mumbai's answer to the Sena's politics of hate.
"We'll not be cowed down by threat. We will stand by what we believe in. We came out to show that we can't be bullied," said a middle-aged lady.
The Shiv Sena was left looking desperately for a face-saver, claiming that Shah Rukh Khan had apologised and they were withdrawing their agitation, till the end trying to make a retreat look like victory march.
But it was a victory that Mumbai this time decisively denied the Thackerays and their politics.
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