Jawan craze: Offices close or approve leaves if you can show a film ticket to celebrate ‘Shah Rukh Khan Day’ in Kolkata

It was nothing short of a celebration around the theatres – multiplexes or single screens – as people came with drums, gulal, marigold garlands, cans of milk, and whatnot to mark the beginning of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan. The first show began at 5 am at Miraj Cinemas in Newtown. There are about 1200 shows across Bengal and Shah Rukh Khan’s fans did not mind walking extra miles to enjoy the first-day-first-show of Jawan. 

A media office declares a holiday

Aveek Ray and his friend run a media solution house in Kolkata and decided to keep it shut on Thursday. Instead, they gathered the organization’s employees and watched Jawan at Ashoka Cinema Hall, Behala. “We are 10 people watching it together. One colleague, Susarna Dutta came from Shovabazar and Soumita Deb came from Jadavpur. Others are coming from other corners, including Dakshineshwar and Sodepur (31.9 km and 29.6 km away from the hall respectively),” said Aveek before entering at an 11 am show. But why travel so much? “We are 10 people and wanted to sit together. We did not get 10 seats anywhere else,” he replied. 

Also read: Jawan: Shah Rukh Khan and Atlee march on real-time political issues. Unapologetically. 

Taking a day off or working from home

Not just Aveek’s colleagues, but many others travelled across the city to catch the first-day-first-show of Jawan. Soumen Mohapatra, an IT employee, took a day off to soak in the merriment. “I took off on the release day of Pathaan and this is no different. Jawan will be a bumper hit and how can I miss it?” he asked. Artist Barnali Chakraborty Ganguly and her husband IT official Pratim Ganguly decided to work from home. “I planned and requested to work from home and my office granted me the permission,” said Pratim. 

Show a Jawan ticket and take an off day

Young entrepreneur Shrutanwita Chakraborty runs a retail startup. They granted an off day for employees who could show a Jawan ticket. “We are a small organisation and have about 10 employees. Two of them showed tickets and got a day off to watch the film. We will watch it in the evening. It is a Shah Rukh Khan film and you have to make concessions for him,” quipped Shrutanwita.  

Multiple watches on Day 1

Subhadip Dutta, Amlan Poddar, and Dip Sadhukhan wrapped their heads in bandages – just like Shah Rukh’s avatar in Jawan as they marched on to watch the film. “We watched the first show at 5 am at Miraj Cinema. We will watch the 11 am show here in Behala and then watch two more shows by tonight. Today is Shah Rukh Khan Day and we will celebrate it all day,” said Subhadip. 

Also read: Jawan movie review: Shah Rukh Khan plays a star with a spine in this Atlee film

Fan Club extravaganza

The Shah Rukh Khan Fans Club Behala hosted a party with drums and confetti as they walked into the hall. Before the beginning of the show, they cracked coconuts to mark the ‘auspicious day’ of Jawan's release. Surjendra Bagchi, Arkadyuti Palit, and Anirban Mondol took off from their office. “We have been doing it for 12 years for every Shah Rukh Khan film. This is no different,” said Arkadyuti.