Karnataka: Court restricts release of Kannada film

BANGALORE:  A local court on Tuesday restrained the release of Kannada film “Sathyananda” till the defamation suit filed by the petitioner is disposed off, following a petition by self styled Godman Nithyananda. Hearing an interlocutory application by Nithyananda, who had moved the court stating that the film is based on his life, Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Ashwath Narayana restrained the release of the said film. The petitioner in his complaint alleged that the film would taint his public image. The film has been produced by Madan Patel. Counsel for Nithyananda K V Dhananjaya had argued that, Patel promoted his film in the name of Nithyananda and “Not only made verbal attacks on self styled Godman Nithyananda during press meets, but also solicited stories on a social networking site on the issue of whether they were exploited by him.” “Despite the fact that posters of the film carried the picture of Nithyananda, the producer claimed that he does not even know who Nithyananda is.”The court which heard the matter, directed that the film should not be released until the petition is disposed off.