Movie goers riot after Indian movie Sivaji delayed in Malaysia
Movie fans turned violent causing thousands of dollars worth of damage in Malaysia when the screening of a new South Indian flick was delayed or cancelled, an official said Saturday.
Technical hitches angered fans of the movie — “Sivaji: The Boss,” starring South Indian superstar Rajinikanth — who then smashed glass displays and set fire to a cinema Friday. Such violence is rare in Malaysia.
About 10 percent of Malaysia’s 26 million population are ethnic Indians, mainly Tamils, and South Indian movies are a major source of entertainment.
“Honestly, I am sorry for the violent reaction of the fans. The delay and cancellation of the long-awaited movie were due to technical glitches,” S. Vel Paari, chief executive of the the movie’s Malaysian distributor, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Chain told AFP.
“I will compensate all the damages,” he added. The movie was initially supposed to be released in April.
Vel Paari said the movie has generated a lot of excitement in Malaysia because it stars popular southern Indian actor Ranjinikanth.
In the central Selangor state, northern Perak and Penang states, police were needed to stop Friday’s violence, the New Straits Times newspaper said Saturday.
At the Sri Intan theatre in Klang, west of the capital Kuala Lumpur, fans destroyed speakers, tore the screen and curtains and broke chairs after the movie came to an abrupt stop midway due to a technical problem.
The theatre manager estimated damages at 70,000 ringgit (21,000 dollars). Rioters also set fire to part of the theatre but is was quickly put out.
Many of the patrons then gathered outside and demanded the cinema owner pays for the fuel and toll costs besides a refund, the report said.
In Rawang, north of here, fistfights broke out while some threw bottles, breaking glass showcases while in Ipoh, Perak, a cinema manager suffered head injuries and needed stitches.
What can I say, without being disrespectful to the Super Star, who has unfortunately been elevated to a comic book Super Hero status here, sad to say. Shivaji started off very promising (similar to Anniyan) in the first half. From the 2nd half onwards, everything in the film started getting over the top (the acting, the sets, the action, the CGI, the violence, the costumes). How it dragged on for 3 hours…!
Granted, this is a Rajini film and his fans want to see him in action, but it becomes over-the-top and hence distasteful…(sigh). How much CGI of the man in action will thrill us? Thank God, we had comedian extraordinaire Vivek to spice up moments. Truly, Vivek made the film very enjoyable. I am actually waiting for the day, film-makers in India will make a Vivek film. That will be the day….
The songs were good, I really enjoyed the Vaji Va song and it really got me going. Sahana was very melodiously nice but Udit Narayan killed the lyrics! The rest of the songs were nice, but not memorable, very unlike Vidya Sagar’s songs in Chandramukhi, which struck a chord in my heart instantly. The opening Rajini song….was nice, but not punchy enough. The lush and colourful sets and scenery were astoundingly beautiful. Well, whoever behind the camera has done his role extremely well.
If you are a true-blue Rajini fan, then watching this movie would be like going for a 40-course buffet! For the rest, you would be able to savour some nice moments here and there in the film but end up with an unpleasant feeling….
What disappointed me most was the message in the film, and how the Boss went about getting his deed done with brute force, violence, bloody revenge and tonnes of cash, literally….Bottom-line, his accomplishments and dreams were realised, but in a negative style. Yes, what a style…some style.
In conclusion, Shivaji conquers the bad guys and his fans and will be remembered as the most stylised Matrix-Bond-Robin Hood-Rajini-over-the-years film of Tamil Nadu and perhaps even India, but does not capture the heart…sorry Boss!
It’s totally shameful that movie goes riot due to technical glitches. I am ashamed to be a malaysian!
Indians (Tamils in particular) living abroad, continue to embarrass and put the mainlanders to big shame. Rajnikanth is a very successful super star in Tamil Nadu and is adored by tamils worldover. Ranjnikanth makes a lot of money and is a very rich and self-made man. He works hard, acting in movies and earns his living.
The Tamils must understand that that is it! and they also need to get back to work if the movie’s over. If they wanna act funny by being brave and breaking stuff and damaging property, then, “WELCOME TO THE INDIAN ARMY”. The Army is looking for BRAVE MEN to fight wars for the nation and see death eye-ball to eye-ball everyday and night!
Forget the chairs and screens in the cinema. Come to Kashmir Tamils!
Be a man!
Giresh,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India