The release of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister and actor Vijay’s movie ‘Jana Nayagan’ has been stalled in parts of Karnataka due to rising apprehensions regarding the Cauvery water-sharing conflict.
Now it is caught in the regional and political maelstrom after the film had to persevere through the certification struggles under the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) at the worldwide box office.
The protests gained momentum when the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) had ordered the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to Karnataka. The decision came after several pro-Kannada organisations condemned it, sparking protests all over the state.
There were reports of incidents in Mandya theatres with pro-Kannada groups, forcing the cinema owners to halt the screenings of the movie, “Jana Nayagan,” to abort any possible incidences.
Meanwhile, Sampige Theatre, in Bengaluru, canceled all the films scheduled to be released on Wednesday night. A number of candidates were seen in Vijay’s posters outside the theaters which were either taken down or suffocated with posters of other films, and enhanced security measures with more strict police monitoring around cinema halls were seen.
In response to the directive issued by the CWMA, government of Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar has stated that the state government will take the matter up with the CWMA to oppose the water release order.
The Tamil Nadu government will move the Supreme Court, to protect the rightful interests of the state, regarding Cauvery water sharing, said st. C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, the minister of State Govt. Tamil Nadu.
The tussle is no longer just political; it has jumped to the alternative screen as well as public festivals in Karnataka, coinciding with having concerns about regional sentiment.