Chennai: In a repeat of 2008 when pro-Kannada groups protested against Tamil Nadu taking up the Hogenakkal water project, on Friday, Tamil films were not screened in theatres across Karnataka. Tamil channels were also blacked out.
The dawn-to-dusk Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits on Friday to protest against the Supreme Court's direction to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu affected normal life in many parts of the state, especially the capital, Bengaluru. Transport services were affected, educational institutions and private companies declared a holiday and many commercial establishments remained shut.
Supporting the strike, the Karnataka Cable Operators Association said that Tamil TV channels would not be aired.
The bandh affected the box office collections of films from Bollywood and other states. Some theatres reduced the number of shows to half. Theatre owners in Bengaluru and other cities were unwilling to screen Tamil movies.
Screening of Tamil films was temporarily suspended in several threatres in south Karnataka. Earlier this week, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in front of Nataraj Theater in Bengaluru and police protection was extended to a few other threatres where Tamil films were being screened.
The Vikram-Nayanthara starrer, 'Iru Mugan', for which a big release had been planned across 100 screens in Karnataka, has been postponed.
TN MLA and actor Karunas, on Friday, said he "strongly condemned" the developments. Referring to the fact that Tamil films were not released or screened in Karnataka this week, the actor-turned-politician said that such actions are "opposed to India's sovereignty". He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and added that "those who are damaging India's unity" should be brought to book.
The South Indian Artistes' Association, better known as Nadigar Sangam, has announced that it will release a statement on the issue after its executive committee meeting in two days. Nadigar Sangam president Nassar told TOI, "It is a sensitive issue, one that will require discussion among our members before we issue a statement."
Karunas is also the vice-president of the Sangam.
Other Tamil film industry bodies including the Tamil Film Producers Council, Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), and the Tamilnadu Film Directors Association represent a larger section of the technicians and artists in the state. The views of the Tamil film industry will be reflected as a collective voice from all its unions. Insiders say they are likely to respond on the issue in a few days.
The dawn-to-dusk Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits on Friday to protest against the Supreme Court's direction to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu affected normal life in many parts of the state, especially the capital, Bengaluru. Transport services were affected, educational institutions and private companies declared a holiday and many commercial establishments remained shut.
Supporting the strike, the Karnataka Cable Operators Association said that Tamil TV channels would not be aired.
The bandh affected the box office collections of films from Bollywood and other states. Some theatres reduced the number of shows to half. Theatre owners in Bengaluru and other cities were unwilling to screen Tamil movies.
Screening of Tamil films was temporarily suspended in several threatres in south Karnataka. Earlier this week, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed in front of Nataraj Theater in Bengaluru and police protection was extended to a few other threatres where Tamil films were being screened.
The Vikram-Nayanthara starrer, 'Iru Mugan', for which a big release had been planned across 100 screens in Karnataka, has been postponed.
TN MLA and actor Karunas, on Friday, said he "strongly condemned" the developments. Referring to the fact that Tamil films were not released or screened in Karnataka this week, the actor-turned-politician said that such actions are "opposed to India's sovereignty". He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and added that "those who are damaging India's unity" should be brought to book.
The South Indian Artistes' Association, better known as Nadigar Sangam, has announced that it will release a statement on the issue after its executive committee meeting in two days. Nadigar Sangam president Nassar told TOI, "It is a sensitive issue, one that will require discussion among our members before we issue a statement."
Karunas is also the vice-president of the Sangam.
Other Tamil film industry bodies including the Tamil Film Producers Council, Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), and the Tamilnadu Film Directors Association represent a larger section of the technicians and artists in the state. The views of the Tamil film industry will be reflected as a collective voice from all its unions. Insiders say they are likely to respond on the issue in a few days.