The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sathyu against imposition of tax on theatre activities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 20, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sathyu against imposition of tax on theatre activities

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 19. The noted film-maker, M.S. Sathyu, has said that "it is unfair on the part of the Government, which has been extending subsidy worth crores of rupees to sub-standard Kannada films, to impose tax on theatre activities and other cultural fetes."

He was speaking at the 50th edition of `Maneyangaladalli Matukathe,' a monthly programme of the Department of Kannada and Culture here today. Referring to 100 per cent tax concession for all Kannada films and an annual subsidy of Rs. 10 lakhs for select 20 films given by the Government on the basis of quality, Mr. Sathyu asserted that "no Kannada film nor any acclaimed big banner has made significant contribution for the development of Kannada.

"Persons of stature who are known for their achievements and the position they have earned should be respected. But treating such persons as saviours of Kannada is not good and does not augur well. People, including presspersons, are scared to question the attitude of such persons. We should cultivate the rationale to question the mutually contradicting public attitude and private concerns of such persons. If they are genuinely concerned about the plight of Kannada cinema they should show some way as they are more benefited by Kannada than Kannada is by them," he said. "Why should the Government give subsidy to films that have scant respect either for qualitative themes or for public decency?

"Do such producers or directors think that all college going girls wear mini skirts and expose their body in the name of dance. Some producers preferred to pass comments against subsidy committee as their films could not withstand the quality test," he said without naming the Puneet Rajkumar starrer "Appu," which could not get cleared by the subsidy committee.

Even as Mr. Sathyu was speaking on his experiences in theatre and film-making, a person among the audience took objection to the acclaimed film-maker using English in his address. When he failed counter Mr. Sathyu on the right grounds he tried to launch a verbal attack on him.

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