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31 Jul 2026, 6:34 pm

The Kaveri water dispute has once again affected the Karnataka run of Vijay's Jana Nayagan. A week after its worldwide release, the film continues to play in several theatres across the state, but fresh protests by pro-Kannada organisations have led to disruptions at a few single-screen theatres in Bengaluru.

On Friday, activists have sent out a warning Poornima and Urvashi theatres, where Jana Nayagan was being screened. Objecting to the screening of a Tamil film amid the escalating Kaveri dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, protesters have asked the theatre owners for the shows to be stopped.

Following the protest, screenings at Poornima and Urvashi, along with a few other single-screen theatres, were halted, and theatres instead screening Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Theatre management also removed Vijay's cut-outs and promotional banners from the premises. Videos of the protests and the removal of the banners have since gone viral on social media.

This is the second disruption the film has faced in Karnataka. On Wednesday, scheduled screenings at Gurushree Theatre in Mandya were cancelled after members of a Kannada organisation protested against the film over the Kaveri issue.

Despite these setbacks, Jana Nayagan continues its theatrical run in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru and several other cities. The film opened to strong collections in Karnataka and has remained in theatres even after completing its first week.

The protests have added uncertainty to the film's run in the state, with exhibitors closely watching the situation. While no major law-and-order incidents were reported during Friday's protests, the disruptions have once again highlighted how the Kaveri dispute has spilled over into the entertainment industry.

Neither the makers nor the film's production house have issued a statement on the protests. It also remains to be seen whether screenings at other theatres and multiplexes in Karnataka will be affected in the coming days.