'Singham' screening disrupted in Bangalore

Bangalore, July 22 (IANS) All four shows of Bollywood film 'Singham' were cancelled in a theatre here Friday after pro-Kannada activists gathered in front of the hall and protested against the alleged anti-Kannada dialogues in the Tamil remake.

Posters, banners and publicity material put up in front of Tribhuivan theatre here were torn by the agitators led by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike volunteers.

The staff of Tribhuvan theatre said they stopped the screening of the film, which released Friday, and were awaiting instructions from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and distributor for further action.

Similar protests were reported at Hubli and Belgaum cities. Police used batons to disperse protestors at Apsara Theatre in Hubli. But the pictures were not cancelled.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president Narayana Gowda told IANS said that one of the dialogues in the film refers to 'Kannadigas as dogs'.

'We are hurt and will will not allow the screening of the film till the objectionable portions are removed,' said Gowda.

Directed by Rohit Shetty and starring Ajay Devgn and Kajal Agarwal, 'Singham' is the remake of a Tamil blockbuster with the same name. The film has been remade in Kannada as 'Kempe Gowda'.