'Chak De' may have special screenings in Indian missions

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Indian missions in the Middle East may organise special screenings of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chak De! India' about a gritty women's hockey team winning the world championships.

According to sources in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, a proposal to send DVDs of the hit Bollywood movie to Indian missions in the Gulf region for special screenings to be watched by the diaspora was mooted at an informal discussion during the two-day conference of Indian ambassadors to 10 countries held in the national capital this week.

The envoys, who were excited at the proposal, encouraged the ministry to make the necessary arrangements immediately.

The conference was attended by Indian envoys to the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as Malaysia, Jordan, Libya and Yemen.

Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Minister Prithviraj Chavan's efforts to get Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to watch the super hit movie appears to have found result too.

According to sources, Manmohan Singh has agreed to watch the movie, which has been playing to packed houses with its message of gender empowerment, unity and patriotism.

Producers Yash Raj Films and Shah Rukh Khan, who plays the role of coach Kabir Khan in the film, might come to capital to organise a special screening for the prime minister.

'The prime minister, who was tense about the crisis over the (India-US) nuclear deal, is in a better mood after opinion polls suggested good prospects for his government and coalition. He has agreed to watch the movie as so much has been talked about it now,' said the source.