Kannada activists whitewash Kaala, malls put up a show

BENGALURU: The screening of Tamil superstar Rajnikanth’s Kaala had to be halted late on Thursday evening after pro-Kannada activists across the city, who were unable to stop the movie being shown during the day and in the early afternoon stepped up protests.       Fearing a violent backlash, none of the single-screen cinemas across the city screened the film, although both Inox in Mantri Mall and PVR in Orion Mall had screened the film as announced.

Various pro-Kannada activists opposed the release of the film. The first protests broke out in front of Lido Mall in Halasuru. The bands of protesters requested the authorities to stop issuing the tickets. Later they went to Orion Mall in Rajajinagara, where they were taken into custody by the police personnel. Kannada Chaluvali Paksha chief Vatal Nagaraj, Karnataka Rakshna Vedike led by Praveen Shetty, and known activist Kumar were taken into custody in front of Mantri Mall and taken to police training school near Mysuru circle. Initially, a large number of 'Thailava' fans, who chose to remain absent from the multiplexes following the protest and fearing law and order issue, did however arrive at theatres during the day to celebrate the release.  

'Kaala' was screened at INOX Mantri and PVR-Orion in Bengaluru on Thursday afternoon.   Though the mall authorities canceled the shows fearing the protest, the situation was back to normal by late afternoon, and the film had its first screening at 1.40 p.m. at Mantri Mall in Malleswaram. Later, two more shows were held as per the demand.