The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Bias' against regional films: Kasaravalli

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Bias' against regional films: Kasaravalli

Staff Reporter

`Some persons are trying to project Hindi films as superior'

AWARD WINNERS: The renowned filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli and film actor Tara at an interaction at the Press Club of Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The renowned filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli has alleged that there have been systematic attempts by some influential non-resident Indians to project Hindi films as superior to and more important than "regional cinema."

Mr. Kasaravalli, who has won the prestigious Golden Lotus award four times, was participating in an interaction organised by the Press Club of Bangalore here on Tuesday.

The 54th national film awards committee adjudged his recent film, "Haseena," which is based on a short story by Bhanu Mushtaq, the best film in the "family welfare" category recently. Tara, who played the woman protagonist in the film, won the best actress award.

Emphasising the contributions of regional films in the development of Indian cinema, Mr. Kasaravalli observed that there is a bias against films in regional languages in the selection of directors, artistes, playback singers and others for national honours.

He said that for instance, the acclaimed director Adoor Gopalakrishnan has been projected as a "reputed Malayalam film-maker" and not as an Indian film-maker. On the contrary, a director of a substandard Hindi film is allowed to lay claim to national honours. P. Bhanumathi and late G.V. Iyer were overlooked for the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, he added.

Replying to questions on his film, "Haseena," he said: "I am hurt that `Haseena' has been adjudged the best film under the family welfare category." However, he added that he is aware of the compulsions and limitations of the award committee.

Mr. Kasaravalli said "Haseena" depicts the growing awareness among Muslim women.

To the complaint that he makes films for the sake of awards, he said those who make good films always aspire to win awards.

"Their aspiration to draw public attention to a refined cultural product cannot be faulted. I do not make films for the sake of awards. My purpose is to promote cultural dialogue. My earlier films, `Mane' and `Taayi Saheba,' dealt with the cultural impact of the operations of multinational companies," he added.

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