By Priyal Sanghavi

The My Name is Khan saga has finally subsided after a tense week. Widespread criticism from politicians, the media and the public has resulted in Shiv Sena halting their aggressive attempts to stop the film screening in Mumbai. What started as a Bollywood superstar-cum-cricket team owner’s public opinion turned into a political battle to screen a movie advocating peace and love.

MNIK did not need much publicity. With two of Bollywood’s biggest superstars, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, starring in a film by A-list director Karan Johar, it had already generated plenty of hype. It was the first big release of 2010 and was slated for release on Shivratri, a religious holiday. All these factors were enough to guarantee a massive opening.

But until Friday morning, no one was sure whether it would open in Mumbai, home of Bollywood and one of the world’s biggest markets for films.

But with the Chief Minister Ashok Chauvan and state ministers watching the film, by Friday evening everyone had made their way to the theatres. Two thousand Shiv Sena party members had been arrested. By Saturday evening, media was abuzz on how the brave citizens of Mumbai had defied the Sena threats to watch MNIK.

A large part of the credit goes to the security arrangements. In spite of the brickbats from political rivals, all movie halls were fortresses and any violence was curtailed quickly. If the police ever got it right, it was now. And this encouraged the ordinary citizen to step out and watch his favourite movie. Friday morning saw 13 out of the 63 cinema halls screen the movie. By Saturday, the number had increased to 49.

Does the Sena have second thoughts? No. Sena head Bal Thackeray continues taking potshots through his editorial mouthpiece, criticising Chauvan as Shah Rukh Khan’s bodyguard.

He wrote: “Chauvan arrested thousands of Shiv Sainiks and beat them up till they bled and put them in jail. In the end there was no place remaining in jail. For one Khan, how weak and helpless the Chief Minister has become.” He congratulated his party on successfully stopping the screening.

Whether there was a clear ‘winner’ or not, there are certain things that were proved by this issue:

- gone are the days when one political party could hold a city to ransom. India, with its ideals of democracy and multi-party politics, has drastically reduced the influence of a single party
- the fact that a political party is threatening a city and causing damage to property is enough to irk the citizens
- more than Sena’s comments, the aggression with which they pursued them led to their downfall
- security measures in the city, which always tend to be criticised, were more instrumental in boosting public confidence than the word of any leader
- the screening would not have gone ahead without the mass movement on social networking sites, citizens forums and media outlets
- Khan, with his determination to not apologise but offer to sort out his differences with Thackeray, showed courage and maturity which led millions to rally behind him
- the media did go a bit overboard with its talk of the Mumbai ‘spirit’ and its scrutiny of each of Khan’s tweets
- but the fact is that Mumbai, which did not bow down to floods or terrorist attacks, will not bow down to a political party facing an ideological crisis either

Since the Sena has not yet given a statement, the row is not officially over.

But MNIK has grossed £3.45 million worldwide so far and people are continuing to watch the movie in India.