Bengaluru, Jun 6 (HT): Kaala, directed by Pa Ranjith, will release in Karnataka on Thursday after facing hurdles in the state over its lead actor Rajinikanth’s allegedly offensive comments against Kannadigas during protests over the distribution of Cauvery river waters.

“#Kaala gets a new distributor in #Karnataka at the last minute as #GoldieFilms back out. The new distributor is the veteran #KanakapuraSrinivas producer and distributor. Release June 7,” trade analyst Sreedhar Pillai tweeted.

Srinivas will be releasing the film in over 130 screens across the state. The Karnataka high court has ordered the state to provide security to the theatres screening the movie.

The movie was supposed to be released by Goldie Films, which backed off after the protests by pro-Kannada groups heated up.

The buzz about the film is low compared to Rajinikanth and Pa Ranjith’s previous film Kabali and reports say the advance booking for Kaala is moderate. The fact that Kaala missed the holiday season release due to the protests in April also doesn’t help.

The industry, however, hopes the big-ticket film about the life of a Dharavi don, Kaala Karikaalan, who fights against oppression, will bring the audience back to the theatre in full swing.

Kaala also stars Huma Qureshi in a pivotal role along with Pankaj Tripathi, Nana Patekar, Easwari Rao and Samuthirakani.