"Katappa" says sorry.  "I would like to apologise for the statement I had made 9 years back. Don't stall Baahubali 2 release in Karnataka," actor Sathyaraj said today.

SS Rajmoulis Baahubali: The Conclusion  release is facing a threat in Karnataka due to a remark made by actor Sathyaraj, who plays Katappa in the film, nine years ago over the Cauvery River row between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The video where Sathyaraj made the alleged anti-Kannada comments in the context of the Cauvery river water dispute surfaced about a week ago and went viral.

With just a week left before Baahubali 2s release, Kannada outfits have called for a Bengaluru Bandh on April 28, the date of the release of the much-anticipated film. They will only call off their protest if Sathyaraj says sorry. Despite director SS Rajamouli trying to distance himself and his Baahubali 2 team from the comments, the protesters have refused to back down.


Sathyaraj, who is from Tamil Nadu, attended a meeting in solidarity with Tamil farmers in 2008 who were seeking water from Karnataka. The actor urged Tamils to stand up for their rights and not be passive like a tree every dog would urinate on, according to a report in The Telegraph.

Pro-Kannada activists expressed their anger at the dog remark which they decided was a reference to Karnataka residents for opposing the release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu. He had also reportedly called Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj a comedy character.


Image: Actor Sathyaraj as Katappa in the film Baahubali