Baahubali-2 to hit screens in Karnataka as activists withdraw stir
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Bengaluru, April 23, 2017: Baahubali 2 - The Conclusion on Saturday wriggled out of a wrangle over its release in Karnataka. The lavishly mounted sequel to Baahubali (2015) hits screens worldwide on April 28. Kannada groups opposing its release met on Saturday and decided to withdraw their agitation.
The decision comes a day after Tamil actor Sathyaraj, who essays a role in the film, expressed regret for remarks he had made against Kannadigas nine years ago.
“We always raise our voice against injustice to Karnataka and Kannadigas. We will not remain silent if Kannadiga pride is hurt,” Vatal Nagaraj, who heads Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha, said after the meeting.
“Our protest was against Sathyaraj, and not against the film or its director S S Rajamouli,” he said.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Sa Ra Govindu told DH the only concern was that Baahubali 2 should not muscle out popular Kannada films from the theatres.
“Three Kannada films — Rajakumara, Chakravarthi and Raaga — are doing extremely well and shouldn’t be taken off to accommodate Baahubali 2,” he said.
The film chamber hasn’t fixed a ceiling on the number of theatres screening Baahubali 2.