The ongoing Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has spilled over into the entertainment industry, as the screenings of Thalapathy Vijay’s farewell project, ‘Jana Nayagan,’ were withdrawn across Karnataka, amid pro-Kannada organisations upping their protests against the release of Cauvery water to the neighbouring state.

Several cinema halls across Karnataka suspended screenings of the Tamil blockbuster and also removed its promotional material, citing security concerns amid rising demonstrations by farmers’ groups and pro-Kannada outfits. The film, which received a theatrical release on July 23, 2026, had secured a wide release in Karnataka. Across the state, it opened in nearly 125 to 150 theatres, including more than 75 single-screen cinemas and approximately 50 multiplex screens.

Theatres resort to precautionary measures

As the Cauvery water protests picked up pace, theatre owners in Karnataka’s several districts voluntarily withdrew the film from their schedules to avoid any law and order issues. At Bengaluru’s famous Urvashi theatre, screenings of the film were halted after police issued an advisory. The management at the theatre removed all promotional material linked to the movie, while the scheduled shows were replaced with the Kannada film Karavali.

Jana Nayagan screenings withdrawn from Bengaluru's Urvashi theatre

Cops have also been deployed outside the theatre to ensure the upkeep of law and order, as well as to prevent any untowards incidents as demonstrations gather momentum across the state. In Mandya, one of the focal points of the Cauvery dispute, pro-Kannada activists were caught on camera removing promotional banners of the film amid escalating tensions over the river water-sharing issue.

Cauvery dispute fuels anger among public

The protests went up a notch after Tamil Nadu sought the release of Cauvery water in accordance with the recommendations of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). Subsequently, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the committee’s recommendation, directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to C Joseph Vijay-ruled state for 15 days.

However, the decision did not go down well with Kannada organisations and farmers, who argued that Karnataka is itself reeling under water scarcity and that releasing additional water would cast a shadow over agriculture, as well as drinking water availability within the state.

TN seeks full compliance with CWMA order

Meanwhile, the political leaders in Tamil Nadu have reiterated that Karnataka must comply with the CWMA’s directives. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram asserted that the decisions of the statutory authority should be implemented without deviation.

He said, “We are very clear there is a Cauvery Management Board and whatever the Management Board decides has to be implemented. That is our position. We are very clear in Tamil Nadu that the arrangement, agreement and verdict of the Cauvery Management Board must be implemented in total.”