Nair wants to release ECLS in Mumbai tomorrow

Subhash K Jha

In a startling show of aggression and a reversal in his earlier mediatory mood Shashilal Nair says he is determined to release his film, Ek Chhotisi Love Story tomorrow in Mumbai with the help of Mumbai’s law enfocement agencies.

Nair says the Theatre Owners’ Association has asked for Manisha Koirala‘s arrest for losses suffered due to the vandalism caused by Shiv Sena men. "All the losses that the theatre owners have suffered due to the cancellation of my film’s release are being imputed on Manisha," says Nair.

"She got the stay order against my film on the assurance that she will compensate for the losses. And now they’re talking of taking her to task. Mr Chhagan Bhujbal (Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra) has already arrested 23 people. Either the Shiv Sena or Manisha has to own responsibility for the losses. It’s getting unpleasant by the day."

Nair now says he will cut only a few shots, "The film cannot be legally cut any longer."

What is Manisha doing to ensure the film isn’t released in Mumbai? "Tomorrow I am meeting Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Sushma Swaraj . She knows the whole story. I now have names of exhibitors all over the country. Sushmaji can easily cancel the censor certificate until the courts clear it in the first week of October. If that fails then I will sue the film’s distributors--Shringar Films for contempt of court. He can’t be allowed to get away with this."

Nair says Ek Chhotisi Love Story will be released tomorrow in Mumbai. "The High Court’s stay order doesn’t apply to the 97 prints which had already been despatched. We have no legal right to make any more prints. But we can do what we like with those 97 prints. The film will be released tomorrow with heavy police protection."

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