The team behind the Kannada film Kuladalli Keelyavudho has made a public appeal following controversies surrounding its lead actor, Madenur Manu. The film’s producer, Santosh Kumar, addressed the media on Thursday evening at Veeresh Theatre, clarifying the team’s stance and urging the audience not to boycott the film due to the actor’s alleged actions.
The controversy began just a day before the film’s release, when Manu was arrested in connection with a rape case. Subsequently, an audio clip allegedly featuring Manu making derogatory remarks about actors Shivarajkumar, Darshan, and Dhruva went viral. These incidents have led to public backlash, severely affecting the film’s reception.
Speaking to the press, Santosh Kumar said, “We haven’t done anything wrong. If I had, I would have asked people not to watch the film. The director worked hard, and we’ve made a good film. It will run for another week. If people believe we’ve done no wrong, please come and watch it. This is a matter of our survival. We entered the film industry with dreams, not to make money. This film was made for Kannadigas.”
Clarifying his association with the actor, the producer stated, “Manu is not my relative. I gave him an opportunity because I saw talent. I didn’t know he would behave like this. Let the law take its course and punish him if he is guilty. I apologise to Shivanna, Dhruva, and Darshan. I didn’t interfere in his personal life or know how many relationships he had. Those who watched the film say it’s good, but his statements have impacted us.”
Santosh Kumar also said this could be his first and last film, given the circumstances. Regarding reports of Shivarajkumar’s reaction, the producer clarified that fans—not the actor—called and requested Manu’s cutouts be removed. The team complied, adding that Shivanna had reportedly advised not to trouble the film’s run.
Ending the conference, the producer appealed, “We did nothing wrong. Don’t target us. Please come and watch the film.”
