Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Protest Halts Vijay's Film Screening Over Cauvery Water Dispute
A movie called 'Jana Nayagan' starring Vijay was being shown in a theatre in Mandya, Karnataka.
Some people from a group called Vijaya Sena were upset because Karnataka said it would give water to Tamil Nadu.
They marched to the theatre, shouted slogans, and tore down posters.
The theatre talked with them and decided to stop showing the movie for the day.
The protest happened because of a long‑standing fight over how to share the Cauvery River water between the two states.
The Karnataka chief minister said he would talk to the water authority, while a Tamil Nadu minister said the state would go to the Supreme Court if needed.
Vijaya Sena protesters disrupted the screening of Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan' at Gurushree Theatre in Mandya.
The protest was sparked by Karnataka opposition to water releases to Tamil Nadu under CWRC/CWMA orders.
The theatre management cancelled the show after talks and removed the film's posters.
The film, directed by H. Vinoth, stars Vijay, Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, and Mamitha Baiju, and was released on July 23 after certification delays.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar responded, with the former planning to approach the CWMA and the latter threatening Supreme Court action.
- Who
- Vijay, Deepak (Vijaya Sena state president), DK Shivakumar, CTR Nirmal Kumar, theatre management
- What
- Protest halted the screening of Vijay's film 'Jana Nayagan' and led to its cancellation
- When
- July 30, 2026
- Where
- Gurushree Theatre in Mandya, Karnataka
- Why
- Opposition to water releases to Tamil Nadu under CWRC/CWMA orders
- Film title
- Jana Nayagan
- Release date
- July 23, 2026
- Director
- H. Vinoth
- Lead actor
- Vijay
- Protest organization
- Vijaya Sena
- Location of protest
- Gurushree Theatre, Mandya, Karnataka
- Reason for protest
- Cauvery water dispute
