SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Conclusion has run into trouble as pro-Kannada organizations are irked by actor Satyaraj’s alleged inflammatory statements against Karnataka during the Cauvery water crisis.
These organizations have threatened to stall the release of the film if the veteran actor, who plays the iconic character of Katappa, does not render an apology.
According to reports, members of these groups have written to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to stall the film's release. One group, Karnataka Rakshana Vedhika, reportedly prevented the screening of the Baahubali 2 trailer in Bellary and police had to be called in to prevent violence, resulting in the theatre cancelling the screening entirely.
Incidentally, another group, Karnataka Grahakaara Okkoota (KGO), has sent a request for a dubbed version of the film in Kannada.
Satyaraj had made the comments in September last year. But there were no protests either against him or the film all these months. It is only when the film is around a month away from release that the groups have started a campaign against the actor.
After the release of Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Satyaraj’s character Katappa gained instant fame. Jokes about why his character killed Baahubali have been breaking the internet and social media ever since.
Baahubali: The Conclusion, which stars Prabhas in the lead, is the most awaited film of the year and will be getting the widest release in India on about 6,500 screens. The film is set to be released on 28 April.