'Kaala' released in multiplexes in K'TKA amid protests

Amid protests by pro-Kannada activists, superstar Rajinikanth-starrer 'Kaala' was released in some multiplexes in the city today but stalled in most parts of Karnataka.

Cinema halls, where it was to be screened, refused to show the film, leaving cinema-goers, especially die-hard fans of the Tamil top actor, disappointed.

Demonstrations were held in front of theatres in the city where the film was to be screened.

Protesters were seen requesting the 67-year-old actor's fans not to watch the movie for the sake of their Kannada brethren fighting for Cauvery water.

The protesters also asked them to come together to express solidarity with the farmers who have been deprived of Cauvery river water.

However, later in the afternoon, some multiplexes in the city screened the movie.

"The film has been released in multiplexes in Bengaluru. Three to four multiplexes screened it from 2 pm onwards," South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce Secretary L Suresh told PTI over phone.

Police had made tight security arrangements at multiplexes which screened the film, he said.

Suresh said standalone cinema theatres were still hesitating to screen the film.

Reports from Mysuru said the film's screening 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 went from theatre to theatre asking movie-goers 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 movie's distributor 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."