Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court on Tuesday directed the state government to provide security for the ‘peaceful release’ of superstar Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala, which pro-Kannada outfits had threatened to stall over the actor’s remarks supporting the cause of Tamil Nadu farmers in the Cauvery row.
Justice G. Narendar issued the direction on the basis of a Supreme Court order, which had stayed ban orders imposed on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmaavat by Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana early this year.
“Freedom of speech and expression, particularly as a medium of expression in films, cannot be curtailed. The creative content is am insegregable aspect of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution,” said the judge while citing the Padmaavat verdict — the SC had cleared the Bhansali magnum opus in January staying the ban in four states. The judge however said he cannot make it mandatory on exhibitors to screen the film.
Miffed with Rajinikanth’s statement that whoever came to power post-poll in Karnataka, the state should implement the SC order on Cauvery sharing, some pro-Kannada outfits launched a tirade against the actor and threatened to block the screening of his ‘Kaala’ when it gets released there. This was followed by the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce announcing on May 29 it would not permit the movie’s release on June 7. “A decision has been taken that Rajinikanth’s movie will neither be distributed nor screened anywhere in Karnataka,” KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu had announced.
Delivering relief to ‘Kaala’, Justice Narendar issued direction to the government after Additional Advocate General A G Shivanna said there was no ban on ‘Kaala’ and the government was ready to provide security to exhibitors if they furnished details.
“My Lord, there has been no ban imposed on the release of ‘Kaala’ film by any organisation, but the government is ready to provide security to exhibitors for peaceful screening of the film in theatres and multiplexes across Karnataka if they provide us details,” Shivanna said.
The court was hearing a petition by Kaala’s producer K Dhanush and his wife Aishwarya, who sought directions to the Karnataka government and the KFCC for smooth release of the film.
