With the Karnataka High Court refusal to intervene in the matter of Rajinikanth’s ‘Kaala’ being released in Karnataka, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy made it clear that he will implement the directives, but the distributors should not release the film considering the sentiments against it. “As head of the Karnataka government, I have to implement the direction of the High Court”it is my responsibility but according to my observations as an individual, in this kind of atmosphere, it isn’t good on the part of producer or distributor to release the movie,” he told the media after meeting with pro-Kannada activists who have threatened protests.

Hours before it is slated to hit the screens, the fate of Rajinikanth-starrer ‘Kaala’ still hangs in the balance in Karnataka despite the Advocate General’s assurances to the High Court on Tuesday that adequate security will be provided to the theatres that want to screen the film.

With a budget of Rs 140 crore, ‘Kaala’ is set to hit the theatres on Thursday, but pro-Kannada groups have called for a ban on its release in Karnataka over Rajinikanth’s comments on the Cauvery water distribution issue. Distributors and theatre owners had also decided not to release the film considering the “sentiments” of the Kannada people.

Rajinikanth, who recently joined politics in Tamil Nadu, had said that the Supreme Court’s order on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute must be adhered by and Karnataka should release Tamil Nadu’s share of water. This, coupled with the fact that the superstar himself spent the first 20 years of his life in Bengaluru before joining the Tamil film industry, has left many in Karnataka angry over his ‘loyalties’.

Kannada groups have even threatened to hold demonstrations so that the movie is not released in the state. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha have already announced demonstrations in the heart of the city on June 7.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce — the umbrella forum of producers, distributors, exhibitors and actors — held many rounds of meetings with distributors and theatre owners.

On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court heard detailed arguments on a writ petition filed by the film’s producer Wunderbar Films, which had sought government intervention against the restrictions imposed by the film chamber.

But since the chamber has not officially ‘banned’ the film (calling it a ‘voluntary’ response of the distributor and the theatre owners), the High Court refused to intervene. The court told the Advocate General to ensure security to those theatres that would screen the film. The AG wanted the producers to send out a list of theatres where security should be extended to facilitate the screening.

While Rajinikanth fans rejoiced over the High Court’s directive, they were not so sure of what to make of it at the end of the day. Theatres that have traditionally been running full houses on the opening day for Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan movies and sometimes screen as many as five or six shows, are yet to start with the bookings. They said that they were undecided on whether to go ahead with the screening or not.