Pro-Hindu organisations across the State took to the streets on Saturday protesting against a controversial Kannada movie, ‘Katariveera Surasundarangi’, allegedly showing Hindu gods in poor light.
The movie has Upendra and Ramya in the lead roles. Now, various organisations and religious institutions have opposed the release of the movie for “insulting Hindu religion”.
The protesters removed the posters and staged sit-ins in front of the theatres screening the film in Chikmaglur, Udupi, Mangalore, Gadag and Mudhol as well.
In Mangalore, protesters set ablaze posters in front of theatres screening the movie.
Pontiff of Shiroor mutt, Laxmivaratheertha Swami in led the protest in Udupi.
“We may not be able t o stop the screening of the film in other parts of the State. However, we will not allow it to be screened at least in this temple town,” said the seer who has not watched the film yet.
“But, I am sure the film has some degrading remarks/scenes on Hindu gods,” he said. ‘
‘Cut controversial scenes’
Members of various organisations in Mangalore demanded that the controversial scenes and dialogues should be removed from the film. Some organisations in a few districts of north Karnataka took out protest marches and submitted memoranda to the tahsildars, demanding a ban on the movie.
A pro-Hindu organisation in Mudhol forced theatre owners to stop the screening of the film. Muniratna spoke with the representatives of the Hindu organisations in Mangalore on Saturday night.
Pramod Muthalik, national president of Sri Rama Sene, said in Mysore that a Statewide protest will be held on May 14 in front of theatres screening the movie.
