HC tells Karnataka to ensure peaceful 'Kaala' release, CM Kumaraswamy says he 'will obey'

Kumaraswamy today backed deferring the release of Rajinikanth-starrer 'Kaala' in Karnataka after the high court directed the state government to provide necessary security for peaceful screening.

Rajinikanth in Kaala.

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to take steps and measures to ensure peaceful screening of Rajinikanth-starrer Tamil movie Kaala, slated to be released on Thursday in select theatres across the state, even as Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said although his government would obey the court directions, his “personal opinion as a Kannadiga” was against the release of the movie in Karnataka.

Justice G Narendar passed the interim order after Additional Advocate General A G Shivanna made a categorical statement before the court that there was no decision to impose a ban on the movie yet, and that the State was ready to provide security to exhibitors of movie if the petitioners furnished the details along with the place of the movie screenings and timings.

Though none of the state-based exhibitors were forthcoming about their plans on the screenings, a source in Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) confirmed that at least 150 screens, mostly in multiplexes across the state, will see Kaala released on Thursday. It will be released directly by actor and Rajnikanth’s son-in-law Dhanush’s own Wunderbar Films without going through distributors.

READ | Karnataka HC clears decks for release of Rajinikanth's 'Kaala' in state

Recently, Rajinikanth had iterated that the Karnataka government should implement the Supreme Court’s order on Cauvery water in letter and spirit without getting into “technicalities of whether it is going to be an authority or a board”.

Rajinikanth’s remarks had irked pro-Kannada outfits and even KFCC took a firm stand of not exhibiting Kaala in any of the theatres of the state.

Kumaraswamy, after a meeting with KFCC representatives, said that it was the responsibility of the State government to abide by the High Court order. “However, my personal opinion as a Kannadiga — and not as Chief Minister — is that the movie should not be released,” he said.However, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce in a statement said it was in touch with KFCC for the unhindered release of the movie.