By Express News Service
BENGALURU: Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala could not be screened at a majority of multiplexes and single-screen theatres across Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka on Thursday. It was, however, screened in Ballari.
Kaala released on Thursday under tight security after the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the police to provide security to theatres and the public.In Benglauru, protesters, who were angry with Rajinikanth for his comments on the Cauvery dispute, went from screen to screen persuading theatre owners against playing the movie.
Protests started early in the morning. Those on the streets included members of Kannada Rakshana Vedike and other pro-Kannada organisations, and leaders such as Vatal Nagaraj and Sa Ra Govindu, who is the president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. They were taken into preventive custody. After this, some multiplexes ran one show.
By afternoon, more than 2,000 protesters were taken into preventive custody. They were released by late evening, and they resumed their protests. No incidents of violence or damage to property were reported.
In Raichur, Chikkaballapur, Anekal, Hassan, Davangere and Mysuru, theatres saw protesters gather and stop screenings.
On Friday, the situation may remain the same with most theatre owners reluctant to screen the movie. Sa Ra Govindu, KFCC president, said, “We are having a meeting to take action against distributors who choose to ignore the protests. We demand a ban on the screening.”detailed coverage:
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