Maattrraan faces the Cauvery heat

The Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu seems to be affecting a lot to Tamil films. As there is a huge protest and tense situation in Karnataka over the centre's directive to release 9,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for Tamil Nadu, exhibitors are not coming forward to release Kollywood movies fearing that it could fuel fire to the ongoing dispute.

Last week, many exhibitors refused to screen Tamil movies in Bangalore and other parts of Karnataka due to the ongoing Cauvery strike. Kollywood films, which were doing decent business, were replaced by Kannada and other language movies. Films like Sundarapandian, Sattai and Vikram's Thaandavam disappeared from screens, as the theatre owners were not ready to face the brunt of pro-Kannada groups.

Now, Surya's Maattrraan is likely to face the heat, as the issue has not been resolved yet. The distribution rights for Karnataka region were acquired by Mandya Srikanth and considering the current situation, the films would probably suffer losses if the exhibitors refuse to screen the movie, which is directed by KV Anand and stars Surya and Kajal Aggarwal.

The Kollywood and Sandalwood friendship got the first blow in 1991 when the violence broke out in Tamil Nadu-Karnataka over the same issue. Both the film industries raised to the occasion and supported their respective film industries. But unfortunately, a Kannada film unit, which was filming in Tamil Nadu, was reportedly attacked by pro-Tamilian groups creating a rift between the two film industries. Since then, whenever there is a dispute, Tamil films gets affected in Karnataka.