Watched 'Phoonk' alone; got Five lakh prize!

Bangalore, Aug 26: Accepting the challenge given by film Director Ram Gopal Varma to watch his latest horror flick 'Phoonk' alone in a theatre for a prize money of Rs five lakh, a youth from Kodagu won it, pocketing the reward. Talking on Tuesday, Aug 26, the 30-year-old Areyada Pavin Ponnanna said he took up the challenge not for money, but to deliver a message to people that nobody should believe in superstition.

Mr Ponnanna said he had bought all the 227 tickets for the night show at INOX theatre in the city by paying Rs 47,500. Kannada actor Sudeep starrer 'Phoonk' was released last week, making five movie buffs accepting the challenge. They had 'bolted' from the theatre, a spokesman of the film distributors said. The film deals with superstition and black magic. Despite without any special effects or scary sets, the Director claimed that the movie was very scary.

Mr Ponnanna is a businessman and Convenor of Samnvay Kodavas Association in the city. ''I deliberately chose night show to remove superstition from the minds of people,'' he added.

UNI