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Sri Intan theatre manager N. Kalatharan showing the damage which occurred when patrons went on a smashing spree in Klang yesterday. — NST picture by Cherani |
KUALA LUMPUR, Sat:
Dissatisfied patrons rioted at several theatres when the screening of the much-waited Tamil movie Sivaji ran into technical glitches on Thursday night.
Police had to be summoned to the Sri Intan theatre in Klang, which was the worst- affected, and the Sri Kinta theatre in Ipoh, to control the crowds.
The Sri Intan theatre has suspended shows to carry out repair works. Damage has been estimated at RM70,000.
Sivaji (The Boss) stars Rajinikanth, one of India’s top actors and reputedly the highest-paid Indian actor.
In Klang, some patrons vented their anger by smashing glass displays and lights and speakers at the Sri Intan theatre. Others tore the screen and curtains, broke the chairs and damaged the wood panelling of the theatre.
Theatre manager N. Kalatharan, 48, said the movie was scheduled for screening at 9pm but due to technical problems, it only started at 10.30pm. He said tickets for both the 9pm and midnight shows had been fully booked.
Mid-way through the movie, at 11.30pm, the movie came to an abrupt stop due to more "technical problems".
After unsuccessful efforts to resolve the problem, the management announced that the show had to be cancelled and offered to refund the ticket money.
The crowd became restless and many refused to accept the offer. Kalatharan said some demanded thrice the ticket price, while others wanted the management to pay fuel and toll costs.
"This dragged on for more than 30 minutes and by then, the midnight-show crowd had also gathered outside."
He said with some 1,600 people there, things got out of hand and some of the patrons went on a smashing spree.
About 40 policemen arrived but had problems initially in calming the noisy crowd.
Deputy district police chief Superintendent Chong Kok Sin told the crowd to either accept the refund, lodge a police report or sue the management.
Kalatharan said the technical problem arose because the movie was screened using digital system for the first time.
In Ipoh, angry patrons broke chairs, burnt curtains and posters when the 9pm screening was delayed at the Sri Kinta theatre.
A patron, K. Novinthen, said they were told by the theatre manager at 9.30pm that due to the digital format system of the movie, it could only be screened simultaneously nationwide.
"By 11.30pm, they still hadn’t started screening. A lot of people became angry and started breaking chairs and throwing bottles towards the screen," he said, claiming that the theatre manager was also beaten up.
The movie was finally screened at 12.15am.
The Coliseum theatre in Kuala Lumpur was also not spared.
Theatre owner Dr Chua Seong Siew said the crowd was huge and there was a long queue waiting to buy tickets.
"People grew impatient and started pushing, resulting in a broken glass panel at the counter. We only got the movie at 4.30pm and started selling the tickets at 4.45pm."
S. Nandakumar, 29, said he went to the PJ State theatre to watch the midnight show.
"There were a lot of people waiting outside. The 9pm show had been cancelled and refunds were being given out."
The owner of the movie rights for Malaysia, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Chain (M) Sdn Bhd chairman Vell Pari, could not be contacted.
