Latest feather in Superstar Rajinikant’s cap-Enthiran the Robot

Here’s the latest feather in Rajinikant’s cap. After giving Monalisa that smile, knowing Victoria’s secret and getting Google to Rajinikant, he has made it possible for Prabhat Talkies to screen a Hindi film — Robot the Hindi version of the South Indian superstar’s Enthiran. 

What’s so great about this, you ask! Well, Prabhat considered the Mecca of Marathi cinema hasn’t screened a Hindi film here since 2001.

While superstar Rajinikanth-starrer Enthiran and Robot (Hindi) are making waves all over the country, Pune isn’t too far behind. Much like the rampage of the Rajini clones in the film, continuing its record march through the country, Robot has managed to register this significant achievement. 

It is being shown in Prabhat Talkies predominantly known for showcasing Marathi movies. Prabhat Talkies, Pune’s oldest cinema theatre has entered it’s 76th year. During the last decade and half, it has become the bastion of Marathi movies. 

The last time a Hindi movie was showcased here was in 2001, when Veer Savarkar, produced by Sudhir Phadke, was screened here.

So, when posters of Robot were put up at Prabhat Talkies last week on Friday, people had a hard time believing it. Padmakar Wagh, the manager of Prabhat Talkies, said, “It was unbelievable for movie connoisseurs to see a Hindi movie poster put up here. 

When people rang up to enquire about the show timings and they heard that we were screening Robot at 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm, they exclaimed, “Is this really Prabhat?”

When asked how and why Robot made it’s way to the theatre, the manager laid to rest all doubts this reporter had of a hostage-like situation masterminded by Chitti-turned-evil. 

Wagh said, “There was a huge demand from moviegoers that the movie be screened here. Many people had asked us about it as Robot was making it to the headlines. There was a lot of curiosity about the film. 

People who did not want to shell out much money in multiplexes, wanted to watch Robot here. The booking of the movie has lived up to its demand.” 

Wagh refused to give this reporter specific numbers, saying that he could not disclose the figures. 

According to Wagh, before Veer Savarkar in 2001, real commercial Hindi movies that played here were Fareb and Machis in 1996. It seems that Rajini has started a new trend at Prabhat, Dabangg is also being screened at the theatre now. 

Wagh said, “Robot was brought here on public demand. After playing in many multiplexes and theatres in city, we brought it here on an experimental basis. It was played along with Dabangg one a show each day. 

In terms of collections, it is somewhat ahead of Dabangg. You can safely say that is first Hindi movie in a decade here.” And just in case you were wondering, “Nahin, Prabhat badnaam nahin hua”.