The Hindu : Karnataka News : Producers, exhibitors heading for showdown

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Producers, exhibitors heading for showdown

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, SEPT. 29. The president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, H.D. Gangaraj, said on Wednesday that he was hopeful of resolving the problems of the State film industry in a couple of days.

He told presspersons after meeting the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, that the problems could be settled through discussions involving all the three sectors of the industry.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the past presidents of the chamber reportedly worked out modalities to be followed and areas to be studied for finding solutions to the problems. K.C. N. Chandrashekhar, M. Bhaktavatsala and others attended the meeting.

Exhibitors meet Ambarish

A delegation of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Pradashakara Mahamandala (KCPM), led by R.R. Odugoudar, participated in a meeting convened by the MP and film star, Asmbarish, here on Wednesday.

Although the meeting did not make any headway in ending impasse, the mahamandala reportedly asserted that it would defy the seven-week moratorium and release new non-Kannada films from October 1 in some places in North Karnataka.

Protests planned

The Kannada Kavalu Samithi of the Kannada Producers' Association samiti has decided to stage protests in front of cinemas screening new non-Kannada films defying the seven-week moratorium, B.M. Harish, samiti president, has said.

Mr. Harish said that defying the moratorium would mean disregarding the preliminary recommendations of the K.P. Pandey Committee, formed by the Government to resolve the crisis in the Kannada film industry, and also film actor and MP Ambarish's efforts to work out a solution.

`Give enough time'

He urged the Government to cancel the licences of cinemas where films were screened in violation of the moratorium.

He said Mr. Gangaraj should be given enough time to find a solution.

Such decisions as that of the film exhibitors' federation would put pressure on Mr. Gangaraj, he said.

Film actor Jaijagadesh said the samiti were working for the success of Kannada films. "We are not fighting for the screening of Kannada films in other States," he added.

Comments criticised

The president of the All-Karnataka Kannada Chaluvali Kendra Samiti, G. Narayana Kumar, has condemned the decision of some cinema owners to screen non-Kannada films in defiance of the moratorium.

Responding to Mr. Odugoudar's comments at a press conference, he questioned the standing of Mr. Odugoudar's organisation. Those who were saying that new non-Kannada films would be screened from October 1 had taken money from filmmakers from outside the State, he alleged.

He challenged film personalities from outside the State, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikant and Kamal Hasan, to hold protest demonstrations in Bangalore.

Court notices

The seven-week moratorium on the screening of new non-Kannada films in the State took a new turn with a petition being filed against it on Wednesday in the Karnataka High Court.

A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, N.K. Jain, and Justice V.G. Sabhahit ordered issue of notices to the Government, the High-level Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, K.P. Pandey, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and other respondents on a public interest litigation by S. Vasudeva, an advocate of Bangalore.

The Bench also ruled that the pendency of the petition would not preclude the authorities from settling the issue in accordance with the law.

In his petition, Mr. Vasudeva said the people of the State had been put to hardship as they were not able to view new films. He said the people had a right to view films as they paid entertainment tax.

The ban on screening of non-Kannada films for seven weeks after their release in their respective States was illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional, he said. He said the High-level Committee set up to inquire into the demands and grievances of the film industry had also recommended the seven-week moratorium. The proceedings of the committee on September 3 favouring the moratorium were bad in law and illegal. The committee had no authority to make such a recommendation. If the moratorium continued, many cinemas would have to close down. He urged the court to quash the September 3 proceedings and also direct the authorities to lift the embargo. The court ordered issue of notices to be returnable in six weeks.

Video piracy

Our Mangalore Staff Correspondent reports:

Mahesh Manjrekar, Hindi film director, has described the moratorium on release of new non-Kannda films as unfortunate and urged those concerned not to view the issue parochially and let the viewers have the final say.

In an interaction with presspersons organised by the promoters of the Kannada movie, Encounter Daya Nayak, here on Tuesday, Mr. Manjrekar said: "Even a four-day delay (in releasing a Hindi film) will effectively kill the film.'' He attributed this to the rampant video piracy.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section