The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the State government, the State Police chief, and the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to take necessary measures to prevent any inconvenience during the screening of Rajinikanth’s movie Kaala and to movie-goers across the State.
Justice G. Narendar passed the interim order on a petition filed by the film’s producer, Wunderbar Films Pvt. Ltd., and its directors, Dhanush K. and Aishwarya, who are the son-in-law and daughter respectively of Rajinikanth.
The court passed the interim order after Additional Advocate-General A.G. Shivanna made it clear that there has been no decision yet by the State government to ban the screening of Kaala.
Mr. Shivanna also told the court that “the State would definitely marshal its forces to discharge its duty of upholding the law and order” if the petitioners provide details of the exhibitors, while pointing out that the representation given by the petitioners with regard to providing protection is “vague and ambiguous”.
To this, senior counsel Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for the petitioners, said that they would provide the list of theatres and multiplexes where the film is going to be exhibited in the State.
Following this, the court directed the petitioners to furnish to the State authorities with the list of places of screening while also giving liberty to the petitioners to provide information on the organisations or persons who are likely to prevent the exhibition of the film.
The petitioners had moved the court following statements, issued by some personalities related to Kannada film industry and certain organisations, against allowing release of the film in the State, urging Karnataka Chief Minister to prevent release of the film in the State as Mr. Rajinikanth had issued a statement in connection with Cauvery river water dispute.