Decks cleared for Rajini-starrer 'Lingaa'

The Madras High Court on Thursday allowed the release of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s latest film “Lingaa” on condition that its producer Rockline Venkatesh deposit Rs 10 crore in the court.

With this, the highly anticipated movie — caught in a plagiarism row — is all set to hit the silver screen on Friday with the actor’s die-hard fans already celebrating across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The film’s release is significant this time as Rajinikanth will turn 64 on December 12. It is for the first time in the actor’s over 40-year-long career that one of his films is being released all over the globe on his birthday.

Earlier, the Madurai bench of the high court permitted producer Rockline Venkatesh to release the film on condition that he deposit Rs 10 crore in the court.

A Division Bench of Justices V Dhanapalan and V M  Velumani ordered that Rs 5 crore in cash and the rest in bank guarantee be given to the High Court Bench Registrar by 12 noon on Friday. Venkatesh said he will abide by the court order and the movie will be released as per schedule.

The superstar is essaying a double role alongside Sonakshi Sinha and Anushka Shetty. “Lingaa” got entangled in a plagiarism controversy, with producer K R Ravi Rathinam complaining that the filmmakers had stolen the story of his movie “Mullai Vanam 999”.


Despite Rajinikanth’s hesitation in joining politics, the release of “Lingaa” has garnered attention as various reports have said certain dialogues in the movie matched the political scenario of Tamil Nadu over the alleged Mullaperiyar reservoir issue.

Film industry sources here said “Lingaa” is to be released simultaneously in about 2,500 screens. “Lingaa”, directed by K S Ravikumar, with music by A R Rahman, is expected to break all collection records.

“Lingaa” is also expected to overtake the previous biggest Rajini release “Enthiran”.