BELAGAVI, 22 MARCH

The screening of the Marathi film ‘Followers’ was abruptly halted in Belagavi by Kannada activists due to its contentious themes related to the Karnataka-Maharashtra border and language disputes. Police instructed the theatre to cease the screening until further notice.

Filmed in Belagavi and its neighbouring areas, "Followers" features a cast of both Kannada and Marathi speakers, with the first show scheduled at Chandan-Inox theatre at 8.10pm on Friday. Activists waved concerns over portrayals of border tensions and claims of harassment faced by Marathi speakers in Karnataka, including a scene depicting a decline in Marathi businesses following the installation of Kannada signboards.

Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Shivaramegowda faction) gathered at the theatre, urging the owners not to proceed with the screening. Tensions escalated between the activists and attendees, many of whom had family or friends involved in the film.

As activists entered, theatre staff promptly removed promotional posters. Police soon arrived, and Belagavi Police Commissioner Ada Martin ordered the theatre manager to halt the screening.

The film's director, Harshad Nalavade, a Belagavi native and BE graduate, expressed disappointment, stating that the project took seven years to create through crowdfunding, and stressed that the film contains no controversial content. "Instead of support, we feel discouraged in pursuing filmmaking," he lamented.