Days before its scheduled release, Dulquer Salmaan’s upcoming period drama “Kaantha” has hit a legal roadblock. B. Thiagarajan, the grandson of iconic Tamil actor and Carnatic musician Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (popularly known as MKT), has filed a plea in a Chennai court seeking a permanent ban on the film’s release, screening, and digital distribution.
Thyagaraja has alleged that the film is misleading and shows his grandfather in a bad light. He has alleged that “Kaantha” shows MKT as “a man of loose morals” who spent his later years blind and broke. He insisted that the portrayal is completely false.
The musician said his grandfather did face a setback in his career when he was implicated in a criminal case but later after being acquitted, he continued to live a dignified and financially stable life until his death in 1959.
The plea also stated that MKT’s eyesight had deteriorated, he was never fully blind. Thyagaraja described him as a respected, devout, charitable man who never consumed alcohol and remained a beloved figure across Tamil Nadu.
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The plea further states that filmmakers must seek permission from a public figure’s surviving family members before portraying their life on screen. Thyagaraja alleged that the makers of “Kaantha” did not approach them. He further said even if names are changed, audiences can still identify who is being referred to, which can damage the reputation of the person who is no longer alive to defend himself.
Meanwhile, even though the film’s makers are yet to respond to the plea, earlier during promotions, Dulquer Salmaan and the team emphasised that the film is entirely fictional and not inspired by any real person.
Co-producer Rana Daggubati also dismissed the accusations as “pretty baseless” during a Q&A session on X, saying there is “no real reference at all.”
Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, “Kaantha” stars Rana Daggubati, Dulquer, Samuthirakani, and Bhagyashri Borse.
Interestingly, Dulquer’s 2022 film “Kurup”, based on fugitive Sukumara Kurup, also faced similar legal hurdles before becoming a box-office success.
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