Canada: Screening Of Indian Films, Including ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, Halted At Theatre In Ontario After Arson & Shooting Attack Within Week; VIDEO
**Ontario Movie Theatre Halts Screening of Indian Films Following Multiple Attacks**
A movie theatre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, has stopped screening Indian films, including the popular title *Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1*, after experiencing two attacks within a week. Officials at Film.ca Cinemas believe these incidents were targeted due to the theatre’s exhibition of South Asian movies.
The first attack occurred on September 25, when two men attempted to set the theatre on fire. The cinema released CCTV footage showing the suspects using gas cans to ignite the fire. Fortunately, the blaze was contained to the exterior, causing only moderate damage.
In the footage, two men dressed in black hoodies can be seen throwing flammable materials at the theatre’s entry gate before fleeing the scene. Despite this being the latest incident, the theatre’s management noted that it was not the first time they had faced vandalism and threats tied to screening Indian films.
“This is not the first time we’ve faced vandalism and threats tied to the screening of Indian films. While these repeated acts are troubling, they will never deter us from providing a safe and welcoming place for our community to enjoy cinema together,” the cinema stated in a post on X.
Adding to the unrest, a shooting incident was reported outside the theatre on Thursday. Fortunately, there were no patrons inside the cinema hall at the time of the shooting, and no injuries were reported.
Jeff Knoll, CEO of Film.ca Cinemas, addressed the situation in a statement to *The Times of India*: “We recognize that many guests had eagerly anticipated these films, and we sincerely regret any inconvenience and disappointment this decision may cause. As these incidents have occurred outside during our overnight hours, we believe that the intention is to cause property damage that will result in forcing our hand to close our doors.”
Following these attacks, the cinema has decided to cancel all screenings of South Asian films, including *Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1*, prioritizing the safety of its staff and patrons. The management continues to monitor the situation closely in hopes of returning to normal operations soon.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/canada-screening-of-indian-films-including-kantara-chapter-1-halted-at-theater-in-ontario-after-arson-shooting-attack-within-week-video
