Worried over pro-Kannada groups calling for a Karnataka bandh on April 28, to protest against the screening of the film Baahubali: The Conclusion, the director of the movie S.S.Rajamouli, has appealed to all Kannadigas to extend their support by watching the movie.
The pro-Kannada organisations in Karnataka, led by Vatal Nagaraj, have threatened not to allow the film screening if Satyaraj (who plays Kattappa) does not apologise for his remarks made against people of Karnataka during a Cauvery water dispute (Hogenakkal row) nine years ago.
In a video clipping (released to the Karnataka media), Rajamouli on Thursday, made an appeal in Kannada. “Myself and the producer of Baahubali want to clarify a few things. Satyaraj's comments made several years ago might have hurt people. It is Satyaraj's personal opinion. We are in no way connected to those comments. In fact, we too happened to watch his comment made nine years ago on the social media only a month ago. After that incident, several of his films have been screened including Baahubali 1,” reasoned Rajamouli.
The director also confided that the film crew had worked really hard for the last five years and several people would be affected if the screening is disrupted.
“Satyaraj is only playing a role in the film and he is neither the director nor producer of the film. It is not fair to vent out your anger on the film. We have also explained our situation to Satyaraj. Beyond this, we can do little. I once again appeal to you involve us in a matter that does not concern us. We pray you will continue to patronise us,” said Rajamouli.
Defending the decision of the Kannada activists, president of Karnataka Films Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) Sa.Ra. Govindu says, “I respect Rajamouli as a director and we are not opposed to the film. But does Rajamouli, being a Kannadiga, not have self-respect? How can he tolerate insult to Kannadigas? He has not condemned Satyaraj, who made derogatory comments against a Kannada activist and a five-time MLA Vatal Nagaraj (who has been called a joker), during the Cauvery row. How can Rajamouli distance himself from all this?,” asks Govindu.
“I do agree it is an old matter. But we came to know about it only recently after watching the clipping, which is being widely circulated on the internet. Have we disrupted the screening of Baahubali 1, which was released across 300-400 screens in Karnataka, though it affected Kannada films. In fact, we helped the film succeed. We have allowed the screening of almost 30 other films of Satyaraj. But it is only now we stumbled on the video (his comments) and we will not tolerate it. Can you stop investigation into a murder case just because it was committed 10 years ago?” asks Govindu.
