Karnataka HC, responding to a petition by Kaala producer Dhanush, has said that it cannot order the State Government to ensure the release of the film. However, the bench did order the State police to provide protection to all theatres screening the film, if it does release.
The film has Rajinikanth in the lead. The star’s views about the Cauvery issue has angered pro-Kannada activists in the State. According to actor Prakash Raj, the distributors and exhibitors of the film in Karnataka voluntarily decided not to release the film in the State, as it could potentially inflame the people.
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Sa Ra Govindu, President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, says that talks are on with the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, about the unofficial ban on Kaala. “The Chamber does not recognise or support any ban on the film. This decision to not release the film was taken by the distributor of the film in Karnataka. Goldie Films put forth this idea. It is not upto us to ban a film or support the ban.”
Even the response of pro-Kannada outfits in the State to the ban on the film is not unanimous. Vatal Nagaraj’s Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha will conduct a massive protest in Bengaluru if the film does manage to release in the State.