Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala hits theatres today, first show at 4 am

The D-Day is here! Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala will hit the screens today. Despite all controversies in neighbouring Karnataka and some tension due to Sterlite remarks in Tamil Nadu, the legions of Superstar’s fan will throng the cinema halls as early as 4 am! 

The first day first show of the Pa Ranjith movie will be held at 4 am in several theaters on the outskirts of Chennai today. 

On Wednesday, Rajinikanth appealed to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to provide security at theatres screening his film and also sought the cooperation of the people.

In some respite for the movie, the Tamil Nadu government granted permission for all the theatres screening Kaala to conduct a special show from June 7 to June 10. The movie releasing in over 500 screens in Tamil Nadu has witnessed lacklustre response for the ticket bookings. 

If one goes by online ticket bookings trend, people can still find tickets available for the weekends, which is unusual for a Rajini movie. 

Despite the missing hype around the superstar movie, Rajinikanth's fans are prepared for the release of his movie after two years by erecting cut outs and banners beside decorating the theatres with festoons. The opening show of the Kaala begins as early as 4 am in some of the theatres in the city outskirts with full attendance. 

"I have not done any mistake. Please do not disturb those who want to watch the movie. I request your cooperation," he said in Kannada outside his Poes Garden residence.

The 67-year-old actor expressed surprise over the stand of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce which is siding with the fringe groups seeking ban on his movie. The chamber has to ensure protection of interests of film producers and distributors, he noted.

“I want to tell those who are protesting against the release of the movie that I had asked Karnataka to abide by the Cauvery Management Board, which is a Supreme Court ruling. I don't know what is wrong in it,” he said. "I also told dams must be administered by the board," he said, adding the efforts to stall the release of the movie "do not seem right".

On Tuesday, Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to provide necessary security for peaceful release of Kaala which pro-Kannada groups threatened to stall over the actor’s remarks on Cauvery issue. Chief minister Kumaraswamy had requested the distributor of Kaala not to release it in "this kind of atmosphere," but said his government would follow the high court order on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court also gave a go ahead and refused to stall the release of Kaala on the allegation that it portrays the family of Mumbai don Thiraviyam Nadar in a bad light.

The petitioner J Muthuramesh said that Thiraviyam Nadar moved to Mumbai in 1956 and helped many Tamils who migrated to that city. Claiming that Thiraviyam Nadar was at one point respected as a leader of a section of Tamils settled in Mumbai including in the slums of Dharavi, the petitioner said the director of the movie Pa Ranjith had made the film based on the life of Thiraviyam and portrayed him and his family in bad light. He sought the court's interference to stall the movie’s release.

Dismissing the charges, senior counsel PR Raman who represents the makers of Kaala submitted that the SC has clearly ruled that a movie could not be suspended or stayed once the CBFC certifies its release. Justice T Raja turned down the request for a stay and adjourned the plea.