Mandya, July 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Screenings of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan were cancelled at a theatre in Karnataka’s Mandya city on Thursday after protests by Kannada organisations over the ongoing Cauvery water dispute.
Members of a Kannada outfit gathered outside Gurushree Theatre and raised slogans against the Cauvery Water Regulation Authority’s (CWRA) directive asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Police personnel intervened after protesters attempted to enter the theatre premises and prevented them from moving inside. During the protest, members of the organisation tore posters of the film and demanded an immediate halt to all screenings.
Following the protests, the theatre management cancelled the scheduled shows.
The demonstrators said screening a film featuring the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was unacceptable at a time when Karnataka was facing concerns over drinking water availability and widespread opposition to the Cauvery water release order.
Protesters claimed that Tamil Nadu was seeking water for its second crop season while Karnataka was struggling with water shortages due to inadequate rainfall in the Cauvery basin.
Police continued to maintain security outside the theatre to prevent any untoward incident. No arrests were reported.
The Cauvery water-sharing dispute has intensified protests across Karnataka, with organisations opposing the CWRA directive amid concerns over the impact of water releases on the state’s reservoirs.
Meanwhile, Kannada organisations are planning a meeting on Friday to discuss a proposed Karnataka Bandh against the water release decision. The final decision is expected after the outcome of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president Praveen Kumar Shetty said the date for the proposed bandh would be announced by activist Vatal Nagaraj. He said farmers, Dalit groups, labour organisations and other sections would participate in the shutdown.
Shetty also urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take a firm stand on the issue, citing the example of former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, who had opposed water release to Tamil Nadu through an ordinance.
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