Cauvery Protests Leave Rajini Fans High and Dry in Karnataka, Theatre Owners Take No Chances

Bengaluru: Widespread protests by pro-Kannada activists marred the screening of Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala in most parts of the state on Thursday.

Cinema halls, where it was to be screened, refused to show the film, leaving cinema goers, especially diehard fans of the Tamil superstar, disappointed, PTI said. Demonstrations were held in front of all the theatres in the city where the film was to be screened.

Protesters were seen requesting the superstar’s fans not to watch the movie over the Cauvery water sharing dispute between the two states. They also asked them to come together to show solidarity to the farmers who have been deprived of Cauvery river water.

Reports from Mysuru said the screening of the film was delayed by movie houses due to protests. However, two cinema theatres in Ballari and Raichur districts decided to screen the movie.

Praveen Shetty, an office bearer of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) said they were going from theatre to theatre asking moviegoers to boycott the film. "We are telling them that the issue of sharing Cauvery water is more important than the film," he said.

Miffed with Rajinikanth's reported comments that whichever government came to power in Karnataka should implement the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing in toto, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce on May 29 decided not to allow screening of Kaala.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had requested the distributor of Kaala not to release it in "this kind of atmosphere," but said his government would follow the high court order on the issue.

The Karnataka High Court had on June 5 directed the state government to provide necessary security for the peaceful release of Kaala, which pro-Kannada outfits had threatened to stall over the actor's reported remarks on the Cauvery row.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday declined to stall the release of Kaala.

Rajinikanth, who enjoys a cult following in south India had made a desperate, last gasp attempt to reach out to pro-Kannada outfits opposed to the release, insisting he had done "no wrong" and requested them not to thwart its screening.

Barring the state, the film released worldwide on Thursday amid much fanfare.

(With PTI inputs)