It was feminine power at full display when a bunch of Shiv Sena activists descended on a theatre here to demand a ban on the screening of "Girlfriend", objecting to its theme of lesbianism.

The screening of the film, which triggered protests in a few cities last week, continues uninterrupted here with the Shiv Sainiks deciding to call off their agitation after facing resistance from an unexpected quarter - tribal girls.  

"Some protesters stormed the theatre Tuesday, the first day of the show, and asked us to withdraw the movie. They disrupted the screening for at least half an hour," said Satyam cinema hall manager Laxminarayan Guru Diwan.
 
"Before leaving the theatre campus, they gave us a deadline of 72 hours for the removal of the film," he added.

Diwan said some tribal girls surprisingly came out in support of screening of "Girlfriend" Friday. 

"They asked us to not succumb to anyone and continue to show the movie," he said. "I decided to continue with the screening following heavy viewer turnout.

"But Saturday evening Shiv Sainiks stormed into the theatre campus and started tearing away banners and posters. Soon tribal girls also reached here and it was a virtual showdown over "Girlfriend".

"The hard liners were soon chased away by the girls. Now we are planning to extend the movie for a week."

The Satyam theatre is the lone cinema hall in Chhattisgarh screening "Girlfriend".