the goan I network
PANAJI
The much-hyped biopic on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hasn’t quite cut ice with movie buffs, and for reasons unknown, it hasn’t seen the pro-BJP populace queue-up at the box office in Goa’s movie theatres either.
The Anupam Kher starrer saw screenings cut down to one show daily in the second week itself at the State-owned multiplex operated by Inox in the capital.
Although none of the theatre operators, including Inox were willing to come on record to say how the movie has fared, credible information indicates that the response was far from satisfactory.
“It is a slow movie. Only those interested in politics patronized it,” said one employee at Inox on condition of anonymity. In the week of the movie’s release, which had three shows screened daily, the theatre saw 25% occupancy for the 11:55 am screening, 60% for the 4:55 pm show, and 80% for the 11 pm show. However screenings of the movie were brought down to just one a day in the second week.
On the other hand, ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ got a far better response, say sources.
Senior officials at Inox declined to accept a request for statistics as they said they did not want to get involved in any political controversies.
Meanwhile, local BJP politicians also did not show much enthusiasm and some of their leaders had not watched it either. At least one senior leader claimed he had not even heard of the movie.
“I have not seen it and never heard of the movie,” Rane said. Power Minister Nilesh Cabral had also not seen the film touted as a ‘propaganda movie’ by critiques. Cabral however said he wants to watch it and will do so in the next few days.
Both “The Accidental Prime Minister” and “Uri: The Surgical Strike” which are being viewed as political propaganda movies on the eve of a general election, were released on January 11.
The BJP’s Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, also said she wants to watch the movie.
Ex-Panjim MLA Siddharth Kuncalienkar, in fact was the sole BJP leader to display any excitement, although as expected he latched on to the favourable political message.
“Watched it yesterday. I hope our country doesn’t go in their hands again. My appeal to the country. A very vivid, good person like Manmohan Singh was used and abused, so that should not happen. A Prime Minister should take independent decisions. What is portrayed in the film is based on true events, and it is pathetic,” Kuncalienkar said.
BJP’s State general secretary and spokesperson Sadanand Tanawade also hadn’t watched the film.
While “Uri: The Surgical Strike” is a hit entering the Rs 100-crore club, the Accidental Prime Minister is struggling across the country. The film is adapted from Singh’s former aide Sanjaya Baru’s memoir also titled “The Accidental Prime Minister” and chronicles the former PM’s political journey.
POOR RESPONSE
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane HAD never heard of the movie
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral AND BJP’s spokesperson Sadanand Tanawade had not seen the film
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha said she wants to watch the movie
Ex-Panjim MLA Siddharth Kuncalienkar was the sole BJP leader to display any excitement
