Many like Suren Laha even took a day’s leave from work and joined processions before disappearing into theatres for the first-day first show that began at 9.30 am.

“How does it matter what happens in Mumbai? What he said made perfect sense and we all support him. The film is wonderful and this has to be one of his best performances,” said Pratim Dasgupta, a city businessman who watched the film first-day first show at Swabhumi along with friends.

For theatre owners, the controversy surrounding the movie came as a blessing in disguise. “We have 60 shows in all four properties right now. There has been phenomenal booking and the weekend is a complete sold out. This morning, we had 90 per cent booking for the first show and the tickets for the rest of the day are sold out,” said Captain Virendra Marya, regional director (east), Inox.

The minimum ticket rates from the afternoon show onwards start from Rs 200. The officials at Inox said corporate houses had made bulk bookings for various shows.

Even stand-alone theatres seemed pleased with the 100 per cent booking for the next three days. “The controversy has certainly helped with ‘whimsical’ viewing as people are apprehensive that the film may be banned or taken off screens and are rushing in to see it,” said Arijit Dutta, proprietor, Priya cinema.

Moreover, with the police deployment outside the halls, theatre owners seemed at ease. “It is a strange combination with city clerics and Shiv Sena creating trouble for it. But Bengal is a little more temperamental and we do not expect any trouble in the next few days either,” said Dutta.

Meanwhile, die-hard SRK fans burnt three effigies of Bal Thackeray outside Navina cinema hall. In another incident, supporters shouted slogans against the Shiv Sena chief outside Paradise hall in central Kolkata.