Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan and superstar Rajinikanth joined top stars of the Tamil Nadu film industry for a silent protest against the central government’s non-formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

Haasan, who has been critical of the state government’s failure in making the Centre adhere to the apex court’s ruling regarding the formation of the Board, arrived at the venue shortly before Rajinikanth’s arrival.

The two cine legends sat with superstars Vijay, Dhanush, Suriya and Siva Karthikeyan along with iconic actor M Nassar at the venue on Sunday morning where many of the industry’s other known faces had gathered to demand the setting up of the CMB.

Many of the actors were seen wearing black as a symbol of the silent protest.

The Cauvery water sharing issue has triggered a series of protests of various forms across the state. Many of the opposition parties have united against the ruling Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, which they accuse of “bowing” to the Centre.

Led by Chief Minister Eddapadi K Palaniswami, the AIADMK, too, has been holding protests following the expiry of a six-week deadline given by the apex court to the Centre. The state government has also filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the Centre, the hearing of which is scheduled for 9 April.

Many political parties have also demanded the shifting of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches out of the state.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dinakaran demanded that the youth of Tamil Nadu should boycott the IPL.

Read More: Dinakaran calls for boycott of IPL in Tamil Nadu to protest Cauvery issue

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the MLA from RK Nagar constituency said that “all Tamils, and the youth especially, should boycott IPL matches that are scheduled to be held in Chennai”.

A shutdown was observed in many parts of the state on 5 April. Called by the main opposition party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the bandh affected normal life in major cities such as Salem, Tirunelvelli and Tiruppur besides many other towns from Chennai to Coimbatore. Protesters were seen on the streets, waving flags and raising slogans against the central and the state governments.

Read More: DMK-led shutdown begins in Tamil Nadu over Cauvery issue

DMK working president MK Stalin has been twice detained for his protests.

The AIADMK, on the other hand, has attacked the DMK for trying to use the issue for “political gain”. During a hunger strike launched by his party on 3 April, Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said that DMK and Congress have no “moral right” to talk about the problem.

“It is the DMK which has betrayed the Cauvery cause,” he said in Chennai.

Read More: DMK has no moral right to talk about Cauvery issue, says Tamil Nadu deputy CM

The Supreme Court had on 2 April agreed to hear the contempt petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the Centre over the non-formation of the CMB by 29 March, the last day of the deadline.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that the court understands the problems of the state, which has been involved in a decades-long dispute over the sharing of the river water with Karnataka.

The Centre, too, had moved the apex court to seek a clarification and asking for three months for implementing its judgment in view of the May assembly elections in Karnataka.

The Judgment

In its judgment on 16 February, the Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water and increased Karnataka’s share. The court gave the Centre six week’s time to form the CMB.

The CMB, once formed, is expected to take control of the dams across river Cauvery through which it will distribute waters to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry according to the formula of the Cauvery tribunal.

Tamil Nadu has been demanding creation of the board so that it can be granted the power to open up reservoirs instead of the Karnataka government.