Representatives of the Tamil film industry on Friday began an eight-hour-long fast at Chepauk in Chennai, condemning the attacks on cinemas screening Tamil films, by pro-Kannada groups protesting Tamil Nadu's decision to go ahead with the Hogenekal water project.

Wearing badges to show their opposition to the project and their pride in Tamil culture, scores of personalities, including Tamil superstar Rajnikanth [Images], actors Vijay Kumar and Radha Ravi, and leading technicians participated in the fast.

The fast was called by the Tamil Film Chamber of  Commerce.

Speakers at the fast condemned the attack on cinemas screening Tamil films in Bangalore and said the film industry was the first victim during such issues.

Image: Tamil actors Sathyaraj, Sarathkumar, Rajnikanth and thespienne Manorama participate in the day-long fast against Karnataka, in Chennai on Friday.
Reportage: PTI | Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj