Rajnikanth shouldn't feature in Tipu Sultan movie: Right wing groups

September 14, 2015

Chennai, Sep 14: Amid reports that Rajinikanth has been offered to play the role of king Tipu Sultan in a new movie, right-wing outfits have objected to it, saying the superstar should not act in it.

Rajinikanth has not commented on the issue or on the fact whether he has accepted the role but that has not stopped the right wing group in issuing an ultimatum against the project.

"Rajnikanth is a patriot to the core. He will not accept such roles. I know him well," BJP National Executive member L Ganesan, also a former state unit chief of the party, told media persons when asked to comment on the issue.

Another BJP member H Raja alleged that Tipu Sultan was a tyrant. "So, if someone is making a movie, showing him as a hero, it is distortion of history. No Tamil actor should be a part of such film. Rajinikanth should not do the film," he said.

Founder of Hindu Munnani (Hindu Front), Rama Gopalan, first objected to the movie, saying, "We request the Tamil cinema industry, which loves Tamils and Tamil Nadu, to not to appear in a film about the communal ruler. They should assure that even if such films are produced in other languages, they will not release them here."

When contacted, sources close to Rajnikanth declined to comment on the issue.

Bengaluru-based producer Ashok Kheny, who offered the role to Rajinikanth, seemed baffled by the controversy.

"It (movie on Tipu Sultan) is still in a conceptualisation stage. I have discussed about the idea of doing a movie on Tipu with Rajinikanth, because Tipu's story was suppressed by British. He had asked me to come out with a script," Kheny, who is also a member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, told media persons.

Reacting to the opposition regarding Rajinikanth acting in the proposed movie, he said, "I don't know why they are doing all this. If Tipu was such a divisive figure then why do we have lessons on him for our children? They are doing it just to create controversy...

"We have heard that there were Hindu temples in his court towards which he showed highest regard, many of his close confidants were Hindus, with all this how can he be anti- Hindu," he asked.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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