'MNIK' drawing huge crowds in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 (IANS) A day after the Bajrang Dal protested against the screening of the Shah Rukh Khan starer 'My Name is Khan', the film is drawing huge crowds in Orissa

In Berhampur, 170 km from the state capital, where the film's morning shows were stopped following protest by Bajrang Dal activists Friday, the tickets are selling rapidly despite hiked prices.

'We were apprehensive about the business the movie will accrue. But contrary to our expectations, the movie is drawing large crowds. So we have increased the cost of tickets by Rs.5,' said Prabhakar Rao, owner of a movie hall in Berhampur.

Crowds have also seen in other towns of the state. But the movie buffs of Sambalpur town are disappointed due to non-screening of the movie following the protest.

'We were expecting to watch a good movie as Shah Rukh and Kajol duo is on screen after long time, but we are disappointed as the movie halls have stopped screening the movie,' local Sambit Kumar Mohapatra said.

'Halls across the state are screening the movie but I can't understand why its screening was stopped in Sambalpur,' said another Shah Rukh Khan fan.

The Bajrang Dal protested the release of the movie in Berhampur, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur. A dozen protesters were also detained while protesting screening of the movie in the state capital.