Canadian Theatre Cancels Indian Films After Violent Targeted Incidents

A movie theatre in Oakville, Ontario, has abruptly canceled screenings of Indian films following two shocking attacks—an arson attempt and a shooting—targeting Film.ca Cinemas within a single week. The violent incidents, which police believe are linked to the theatre’s exhibition of South Asian films, have forced the venue to pull major releases, including Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG, raising alarms about cultural intolerance in Canada’s diverse Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The ordeal began on September 25, 2025, at approximately 5:20 a.m., when Halton Regional Police responded to a fire at the theatre’s entrance. Security footage revealed a calculated operation: a grey SUV scoped out the premises as early as 2 a.m., returning multiple times before a white SUV arrived at 5:15 a.m. Two suspects—one described as a white male in a black hoodie, black pants, dark high-top shoes, gloves, and a medical mask, and another in similar dark attire with white slip-on sandals, white socks, gloves, and holding a cell phone—poured flammable liquid from red jerrycans onto the entrance doors and ignited it with a match. The fire, though contained to the exterior, caused moderate damage to the property, which was empty at the time, sparing any injuries.

The second attack, far more brazen, occurred on October 2 at 1:50 a.m., when a lone gunman—described as a dark-skinned male with a heavy build, dressed in all-black clothing and a black face mask—fired multiple rounds through the theatre’s entrance doors, shattering glass and escalating fears for public safety. Both incidents, classified as targeted by Halton police, have prompted an active investigation by the District Criminal Investigations Bureau, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers anonymously. Surveillance footage of the vehicles and suspects is under review, but no arrests have been made as of October 3, 2025.

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Speculation has swirled about the motives, with some community sources pointing to possible involvement of Khalistani extremists, given prior threats against a local Oakville temple. However, police have not confirmed any specific group’s role, focusing instead on evidence collection. The attacks appear to fit a broader pattern, as other GTA theatres screening South Asian films have reported similar intimidation, including vandalism and threats to staff, raising concerns about orchestrated efforts to suppress Indian cinema.

Initially, Film.ca’s CEO Jeff Knoll, also an Oakville councillor and Halton police board chair, took a defiant stance. In a social media video posted after the arson, he declared, “We are going to play what we want to play, when we want to play it,” vowing to continue screenings of South Asian films like They Call Him OG, a Telugu blockbuster, with enhanced security. The theatre rallied community support, emphasizing its commitment to cultural diversity. However, the shooting forced a sobering reassessment.

On October 3, Film.ca issued a statement acknowledging that “evidence seems to show that the participation in the exhibition of South Asian films has led to these incidents at our theatre and other theatres across the GTA.” Citing the need to “protect our community,” the theatre canceled screenings of Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and They Call Him OG, and its website now shows no South Asian titles in the lineup.

The decision, though reluctant, reflects the gravity of the situation. “While we do not wish to bow to threats, the situation has escalated to the point where we must take every precaution,” the theatre’s statement explained, hinting at underlying “disagreements within the South Asian film industry” as a possible trigger for the violence. This has sparked outrage among Canada’s South Asian diaspora, with social media campaigns like #StandWithFilmCa and #StopHateInCanada gaining traction. Fans and filmmakers, from Toronto to Tollywood, have condemned the attacks as an assault on cultural expression, drawing parallels to past disruptions at GTA cinemas showcasing regional Indian hits.

The incidents have cast a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of minority cultural spaces in Canada, especially amid strained India-Canada diplomatic ties over separatist issues. As Film.ca grapples with the fallout, the community demands justice and stronger protections against hate crimes. For now, the theatre remains open but cautious, its marquee dimmed of the vibrant Indian films that once drew diverse crowds, leaving patrons and producers hoping for a swift resolution so cinema can reclaim its role as a unifier, not a target.

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