Amid protests in Karnataka against his upcoming film Kaala, actor-politician Rajinikanth appealed to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to provide security at theatres for the smooth release of the film. The Tamil-language action flick is scheduled to hit the screens on Thursday.
Rajinikanth, in a message in Kannada, said, "I understand H.D. Kumaraswamy's situation. This is not good for Karnataka. When the film is released around the world, the Karnataka ban would highlight the (Cauvery) issue".
"The Film Chambers is supposed to ensure that there's no problem for distributors. It is not right that the Karnataka Film Chamber demands Kaala ban," the actor said.
Rajinikanth's appeal came a day after the Karnataka high court directed the state government to provide necessary security for peaceful screening of the movie opposed by pro-Kannada outfits.
Several pro-Kannada outfits have threatened to stall the film over the actor's reported remarks on the Cauvery row involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
On Tuesday, after the high court order, Kumaraswamy suggested deferring the release of the film in the state. He, however, said the government would implement the directions of the court which came on a plea by the producers seeking directions for smooth release of the film.
Kumaraswamy requested the distributor of Kaala not to release it in "this kind of atmosphere". "As the state government, I have to implement the directions of the high court. That I will take care of. It is my responsibility also. We will have to follow the high court direction," he told reporters in Bengaluru.
Noting that he himself was a film distributor and producer, the JD(S) leader said releasing the film would not be useful to the distributor financially.
"Why unnecessarily by releasing the movie this kind of controversy they wanted to create. It is not necessary," he said adding they can release it after a solution was reached to the Cauvery water sharing issue.
Earlier, directing the state government to provide adequate security for the release of Kaala, the court said: "Freedom of speech and expression, particularly as a medium of expression in films, cannot be curtailed. The creative content is am insegregable aspect of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution."
Justice Narendar, however, observed that he cannot make it mandatory on exhibitors to screen the film. Earlier, the distributors association had said it was against the ban.
The court was hearing a petition by Kaala's producer K. Dhanush and his wife Aishwarya, son-in-law and daughter of Rajinikanth, who sought directions to the Karnataka government and the KFCC for smooth release of the film.
Many pro-Kannada organisations had threatened to vandalise theatres if they screened Kaala.
With inputs from agencies