‘False portrayal’: Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s grandson moves Chennai court against Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Kaantha’ movie

Chennai: B Thiagarajan, grandson of legendary actor and musician M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), has approached a Chennai court seeking to stop the release of Dulquer Salmaan’s upcoming film ‘Kaantha’. In his petition, he argued that the movie portrays his grandfather as a man of “loose morals”, blind in later life, impoverished and forced to beg — claims he says are entirely false.

“He was a legendary personality in Tamil Nadu, not only a popular film star but also a Carnatic musician with a divine touch. He mesmerised lakhs with his golden voice and acting,” Thiagarajan was quoted as saying Live Law. He added that while MKT’s career suffered after a false legal implication, which ultimately led to acquittal, the actor passed away in 1959 leaving behind his wife and two children, but always lived a dignified life.

The petition further clarifies that contrary to the depiction in Kaantha, MKT was a modest, devout, compassionate man who remained a teetotaller and non-smoker throughout his life. “Though his vision diminished, he was not blind,” the plea noted.

Thiagarajan also stressed that filmmakers portraying real-life personalities must seek permission from surviving legal heirs, which was allegedly not done in this case. “The movie makers have made a baseless version of MKT's life, projecting an undignified and defamatory version of him. Even if names are changed, if a prudent person can recall the personality, it amounts to tarnishing the image of someone who cannot defend themselves,” he argued.

The petition seeks a permanent injunction preventing the filmmakers from releasing, screening, distributing, streaming or otherwise exhibiting the movie. It also requests that the makers be restrained from depicting MKT as a person with loose morals, citing such portrayal as “false, defamatory and injurious to the reputation, dignity and legacy of the late actor”.