Mumbai-based journalist Jawahar Nadar has threatened to file a defamation suit against actor Rajnikanth over the story of his film ‘Kaala’ slated for release on June 7.

The legal notice sent by Mr Nadar’s lawyer accuses Rajnikanth of portraying his father, late S Thiraviam Nadar in bad light to garner support among the affluent and upper caste sections of society.

He has demanded a written apology in 36 hours since receipt of the notice, failing which he threatens to file a defamation suit seeking Rs. 101 crore as damages.

Mr Nadar says his father, a jaggery and sugar merchant from Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin district, had moved to Dharavi in Mumbai in 1957 and was nick-named ‘Gudwala Seth’ and ‘Kaala Seth’, owing to goodwill he had earned and was never involved in illegal activities.

When contacted, Rajinikanth’s team said that they would give an appropriate reply after the notice is received. They further asserted that ‘Kaala’ is not about Thiraviam Nadar.

‘Kaala’, dubbed as the political launch film for Rajnikanth, shows him fighting oppression. At the audio launch for the film, Rajinikanth said “‘Kaala’ has politics but it’s not a political film”.

On a question about the launch of his party, he said “The time is yet to come (for launch of his party). I have the responsibility. When the time comes all good things would happen to Tamil Nadu”.

Rajinikanth had a few days ago, sparked a huge controversy over his statement that was seen to justify police firing that killed 13 people demanding closure of the Sterlite copper smelter plant.

He had blamed anti-social elements for the deaths and asked the state government to “come down hard” on them, a stance that mirrored the ruling AIADMK government’s line.

He had then went on to declare that he would not accept people who harm people in uniform and dismissed protests against police excesses.

‘Kaala’ is Rajini’s second film with Director Pa Ranjith.