Zarin Naaz and Komal Agarwal
Patna: Cinema-goers in Patna were left disappointed and frustrated on Thursday after screenings at a popular multiplex were disrupted due to security arrangements for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit.
Gandhi, who had earlier addressed the National Students’ Union of India’s ‘Shiksha Nyaya Samvad’ in Darbhanga, arrived at INOX City Centre Mall in Patna to watch Phule, a biopic on 19th-century social reformer Jyotiba Phule. He was joined by around 400 social workers from across Bihar, selected for the special screening through passes bearing Gandhi’s photograph.
However, the visit caused unexpected disruption for ordinary moviegoers. While those with advance bookings for other films were permitted to enter, new tickets were not being sold for any shows until 5pm, leaving many visitors stranded in the summer heat.
The Phule screening was entirely closed to the public, sparking anger among patrons, including families and students, who had come to enjoy a day at the cinema but found themselves blocked at the entrance without prior notice.
“I came with a friend and my six-year-old daughter, who is fond of Shinchan, to watch Shinchan: Our Dinosaur Diary, but there is utter chaos here,” said one woman at the mall. “We didn’t have advance tickets, and now they’re not even selling tickets for the 5pm show. It’s so frustrating to come here in this heat and return disappointed.”
The incident has raised questions about public inconvenience during high-profile political visits, with many expressing their frustration over social media. As of Thursday evening, no official statement had been issued by the cinema management or the authorities regarding the disruption.
