Ahmedabad: Shahrukh Khan’s movie Raees, allegedly based on the life of Ahmedabad’s bootlegger don Abdul Lateef, is facing opposition from various quarter in Gujarat on its opening day today even as police in Valsad district today detained 4 protesters near Cine Park theater.

The movie which had also faced stiff opposition from many nationalist organization including the VHP during its shooting in Kutch and Ahmedabad, is also being opposed now.

PSI of Valsad Rural police station P K Patel said that 4 persons were detained near Cine Park theater where the movie was released today along with other parts of the state and the country. ‘The 4 persons were detained under section 68 of the Gujarat Police Act as a preventive measure. They were later released,’ he said.

The detention took place when a group of protesters had reached the theater and started opposition of the first show of the movie.

Meanwhile Mayor of Vadodara, where one person had died and two policemen fell unconscious in a stampede like situation on platform number 6 of the railway station during Shahrukh’s alleged publicity stunt riding August Kranti Express two days ago, Bharat Dangar has questioned the release of the film and made a Facebook post seeking public opinion on it.

Dangar in his FB post has raised question on the release of the movie based on a criminal on the eve of the republic day. He has also raised question about the presence of Pakistani Artists (actress Mahira Khan) in the movie. ‘Who is our Ideal and on whose life movies should be made. Before the republic day and at a time when Pakistan is attacking our soldiers on the borders, should or shouldn’t we watch a movie with Pakistani artist. Please give your opinion and forward the message to others,’ his post said.

In Surat also posters have popped up in several areas in the name of Rashtrasena opposing the movie.

Interestingly, Lateef’s son Mushtaq has claimed that the movie was based on his father. He had last year moved high court in this regard which has said that it would be decided once the movie is released. Film producer has refuted the claim while Mushtaq says that the film director Rahul Dholakia had come to meet him before the shooting and inquired about the life of his father. He had also filed a police complaint under section 420 and 406 of the IPC against Dholakia earlier. He later moved to the high court.

VHP has also opposed the film. Gujarat VHP general secretary Ranchhod Bharwad today requested the censor board to not to allow the release of Shahrukh’s films in future.

Film not worth as per various reviews

While small-time protests against the film are on, the bitter part is that reviews are not going in favor of the film. For instance read this review, one of the first today morning. It says the problem with the film is fundamental: Writing is shoddy and unoriginal. It also says that the film doesn’t brighten up the screen. BBC Hindi has in its review said, if you want to watch Raees, leave your brain at home. On social media, most were of opinion that second half of film was especially poor.

DeshGujarat