Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati are currently gearing up for the grand release of their period drama Kaantha, scheduled to hit theatres on November 14. However, just days before its release, the film has been dragged to court by the grandson of veteran Tamil actor MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The petitioner claimed that the film portrays Bhagavathar in a defamatory manner and has demanded a stay on its release. The court has issued notices to the producers, including Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati, seeking an explanation.
Who is Thyagaraja Bhagavathar?
Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's melodious voice, classical training, and charismatic screen presence made him a cultural icon in the 1930s and '40s. He brought Carnatic music into mainstream cinema and set the template for Tamil film heroes who combined acting with singing. His film Haridas once held the record for running 114 weeks in a single theatre- a record that stood for five decades until Rajinikanth's Chandramukhi surpassed it in 2005-06, running for nearly 900 days at Chennai's Shanti Theatre.
From the massively successful Chintamani (1937) to Ambikapathi (1937), Thiruneelakantar (1940), Ashok Kumar (1941), and Sivakavi (1943), MKT turned every film he touched into gold. However, his remarkable rise was followed by an equally dramatic fall.
His downfall began when he was embroiled in a murder case involving a notorious journalist, CN Lakshmikanthan, known for writing scandalous gossip about film stars. Lakshmikanthan had linked Bhagavathar with his co-star MR Santhanalakshmi in his tabloids Cinema Thoothu and Hindu Nesan. Bhagavathar spent over 30 months in prison, during which his film Haridas continued its successful run. In 1947, the Privy Council acquitted him, ruling there was no evidence against him.
What has B. Thiagarajan accused the makers of Kaantha of?
According to a Live Law report, petitioner B. Thiagarajan accused the filmmakers of depicting Bhagavathar- fondly known as MKT- as "a man of loose morals" who lived in poverty and blindness toward the end of his life. Thiagarajan stated that such a portrayal is factually incorrect and defamatory, adding that Bhagavathar remained a respected figure until his death in 1959.
The plea further emphasized that the filmmakers should have obtained permission from Bhagavathar's legal heirs. The petitioner has sought a permanent injunction on the film's release, distribution, and future streaming rights, alleging defamation and violation of personal rights.
Meanwhile, the makers of Kaantha have claimed that the film is completely fictional. As of now, the court has not stayed the release of the film and Kaantha's release is on track.