Screenings of Thalapathy Vijay's much-awaited film Jana Nayagan were suspended across several theatres in Karnataka on Friday amid escalating protests over the Cauvery water dispute.
According to reports, theatre owners halted shows as tensions intensified following demonstrations by pro-Kannada groups opposing the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. The decision was reportedly taken to avoid any law-and-order issues and ensure the safety of moviegoers and theatre staff.
Several theatres either cancelled scheduled screenings or temporarily stopped shows after protesters objected to the screening of Tamil films, including Jana Nayagan. In some places, posters of the film were also removed amid the protests.
The disruption comes at a crucial time for Jana Nayagan, which marks Vijay's farewell film before his full-fledged transition into politics. The film has generated massive anticipation among fans across South India and overseas.
The protests come as the Karnataka government on Friday announced that it would take a final decision on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu only after convening an all-party meeting on August 2.
Addressing a joint press conference at Vidhana Soudha along with Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said all former chief ministers, Members of Parliament, ministers, legal experts and senior bureaucrats have been invited to deliberate on the Cauvery issue.
"The all-party meeting will be briefed on the legal, hydrological and administrative aspects of the matter. Thereafter, a decision will be taken on the future course of action," CM Shivakumar said.
The statement comes a day after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) direction asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
CM Shivakumar said Karnataka has strongly opposed the directive and filed an appeal before the CWMA seeking a reduction in the quantum of water to be released and a deferment of the dates.
"Our officers presented Karnataka's case before the CWRC. Tamil Nadu insisted on the release of water, while our team argued effectively in favour of the state's interests," he said.
He added that reservoir levels and inflows were a matter of public record, stating that Harangi reservoir is at 90 per cent capacity, Kabini at 83 per cent, Hemavathi at 67 per cent and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) at 36 per cent.
"At present, we are receiving an inflow of nearly 26,000 cusecs, or approximately 2 TMC of water. Of this, 3,500 cusecs have been ordered to be released. We have placed all facts on record before the authorities," he said.
CM Shivakumar also noted that Karnataka had released more water than mandated during years of abundant rainfall. "Last year, against the stipulated 177 TMC, Karnataka released over 400 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu. Much of that water eventually flowed into the sea," he said.
Reiterating that protecting Karnataka's farmers remains the government's priority, the Chief Minister said the Congress government has consistently safeguarded the state's interests in the Cauvery dispute. He also welcomed the support extended by BJP MPs and Union Ministers in presenting Karnataka's case before the Centre and the CWMA.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar revealed that he had requested Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to postpone his proposed visit to Bengaluru on August 3 in view of the prevailing tensions.
"His responsibility is to protect the interests of his state, while ours is to safeguard Karnataka's interests. We are hopeful that the issue can be resolved amicably. For me, farmers across the country are one," the Chief Minister said.
The Cauvery water-sharing issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has once again triggered widespread protests, with pro-Kannada organisations and farmer groups opposing the release of water to the neighbouring state. The unrest has now spilled over into the entertainment sector, disrupting the theatrical run of Tamil films, including Jana Nayagan, across Karnataka.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Vijay or the makers of Jana Nayagan regarding the suspension of screenings. It also remains unclear when regular screenings will resume in Karnataka.
