Panaji: Activists of the two Hindu outfits forced suspension of screening of globally applauded film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ by staging protest demonstrations and tearing posters in a city multiplex, triggering strong reactions from the film industry.

On a complaint lodged by the multiplex general manager, Joseph Pereira, the Panaji police had taken 12 people in custody (all allegedly the activists of Shiv Sena). Pereira said that nearly 10 to 15 people entered the multiplex premises and damaged the government property on Friday evening. He further said that Shiv Sena activists tore posters and broke display glass at the multiplex.

Leading the agitation, Upendra Gaonkar, Goa president, Shiv Sena said that the screening of the film should be stopped as there are scenes that hurt Hindu feelings. According to Gaonkar, a few scenes of the film defame Lord Ram.

Apart from Shiv Sena, another Hindu outfit the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti's (HJS) Ponda branch has also demanded that the movie be banned stating that it denigrates Lord Rama and the Indian culture.

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on Kaun Banega Crorepati (the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) and exceeds people's expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials. It may be here recalled that the film has won four Golden Globe awards and been nominated for ten Oscars.