Rajinikanth Cauvery row: Supreme Court refuses to stall release of 'Kaala'

Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stall the release of Rajinikanth starrer"Kaala"that has been ridden with controversy ever since pro-Kannada outfits got miffed with the superstar’s reported remarks on the Cauvery row.

The film is scheduled to hit screens tomorrow.

Bringing good news for the makers of the film, the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to provide the necessary security for the film’s peaceful release after threats against the same rose in number.

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Pro-Kannada outfits had vehemently opposed the release of the film in Karnataka after Rajinikanth stated that whichever government comes to power in the state should implement the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing. This led to the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) deciding on May 29 to not allow screening of "Kaala".

KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu had announced, "A decision has been taken that Rajinikanth's movie will neither be distributed nor screened anywhere in Karnataka."

The groups also requested Karnataka’s Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to ban "Kaala"following Rajinikanth's alleged views on the Cauvery dispute. They threatened to vandalise theatres if the screening of the film happens tomorrow.

Seeing the tense atmosphere in the state, Kumaraswamy had also backed deferring the release of "Kaala"in Karnataka, however, he said that the government would implement the directions of the Karnataka High Court for thesmooth release of the film.

He said, “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.”

Kumaraswamy, however, stated his apprehensions and said, “According to my observation as an individual, not a chief minister, as a Kannaidaga…I request the producer or distributor of the movie, in this kind of atmosphere, it is not good on their part to release the movie.”