“What’s Kaala got to do with Cauvery?”- actor-activist Prakash Raj said on Monday while calling out the ban on Rajinikanth’s film in Karnataka.
The actor, who has previously spoken against the BJP in the past, also raised questions whether Congress will let fringe elements take the matter into their own hands, just like the BJP did during the release of Padmaavat, or step in and resolve it in an amicable manner.
Speaking about the ban, Prakash Raj said: “A film or any work of art shouldn’t be a soft target for people. When you keep a problem alive, naturally fringe elements will try to take law into their hands, government needs tell them that law and order is our responsibility, you can protest but can’t stop a film from releasing.”
A film or any work of art shouldn't be a soft target for people. When you keep a problem alive, naturally fringe elements will try to take law into their hands, govt needs tell them that law&order is our responsibility, you can protest but can't stop a film from releasing: P Raj pic.twitter.com/2TYAEr7YWf
— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2018
He also told The Indian Express that the Cauvery issue was a sensitive one for both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and that it should be resolved in a practical way.
“A statement made by actor Rajinikanth has hurt us deeply. Yes, I agree. In order to express our dissent, a few organisations have called for a ban on the film. Is that what we Kannadigas want? We don’t know and we will never know. If the film is released and people decide not to see it as a mark of their protest only then will be able to gauge what people really want. But these fringe elements deciding on behalf of the people will not let us know it. Who are these people to decide what most Kannadigas want or don’t want?” asked the 53-year-old actor.
He further added that banning the film would be injustice to hundred others who have sweated it out for Kaala.
Karnataka Film Chamber has said that they have not asked for a ban but the distributors & exhibitors seeing the pressure have voluntarily decided to not create tension by not releasing 'Kaala'.The onus is now on the state & central govt: Prakash Raj on ban on Rajinikant's 'Kaala' pic.twitter.com/R7lTdsMNYa
— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2018
He also said that he might be labelled as an anti-Kannadiga, for speaking against the ban and candidly rising questions.
While Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce maintains that the State distributors and theatre owners are strictly against the film, Suresh, president of SIFCC said that the KFCC will hold a meeting with the pro-Kannada organizations and distributors to take a final call.
Kaala is scheduled for a worldwide release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on June 7.
