Pavin Ponanna rents entire theatre to Phoonk away the fears

A 30-year-old filmgoer, Pavin Ponanna, an advertising professional and a native of Madikere in Coorg district of Karnataka ‘phoonk’ away his fears and booked the an entire 227-seat Inox theatre paying Rs 47,000 for a night show on Sunday and watched the entire film.

Though his apprehensive family offered a special pooja and insisted that he visit a place of worship before entering the theatre, Pavin said, he had little doubts he would emerge "unafraid". "I came out unafraid, a celebrity", he said referring to the calls that poured in, after he came out of the theatre.

Ponanna said he took up the challenge after reading an interview of director Ram Gopal Varma, but only to prove he could watch the horror film alone. "It was a challenge that I dared to accept," says Pavin referring to Verma who dared that he would reward Rs five lakh to anyone who could watch the film alone.

Pavin said he would approach Verma to claim the award. But is unsure of receiving it since the contest date was over. "I will ask Verma to hand over the reward or I would challenge him to make another film that was horrific enough to scare me," he said roaring in laughter.

In the weeks leading up to its release on Aug. 22, the film's marketing department said "Phoonk" was so scary viewers could win Rs 500,000 by watching it alone in cinemas as part of a contest. In an attempt to excite audiences, Ram Gopal Varma and One More Thought Entertainment have announced a unique contest - daring people from across the country to watch the movie alone in a theatre, a reward of Rs 5 lakh to any person who completes the task.

People from across the country can participate by sending Phoonk as an SMS to 57333. A maximum of five contestants will be short-listed from all entries received and then brought to Mumbai to try and test their courage.

Some of the rules for the contest are:

* The film will have to be seen from start to finish, without an interval.
* No cell phones will be allowed inside the theatre, which will be fitted with cameras to monitor the contestant.
* The contestant will have to clear a medical test prior to the screening and sign an indemnity bond!

Such conditions truly point out the seriousness of the dare.

But the contest was not advertised on the film's official website

"Phoonk" tells the story of a family traumatized by black magic.