HASSAN: The Government, which was sympathetic to the demand of a section of the Kannada film industry on providing entertainment tax exemption to remake films, now seems to be in two minds over the issue in view of the opposition to the move from other sections of the film industry.

Information Minister and district in charge B. Shivaram said here on Saturday that the Government is still undecided over the issue and a final decision in this regard will be taken in consultation with Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh.

He told presspersons here that the Government has not taken a final decision in this regard as it is facing opposition from sections of the film industry. Remake films will be exempted from entertainment tax only if the Government is convinced that the move will save the Kannada film industry from the crisis it is facing now, he clarified.

Admitting that there are loopholes in the guidelines for determining what constitutes a remake film, he said there are enough opportunities for film-makers to get through the guidelines. "Ten sequences of the original film will be the base for making a remake film. However, film-makers will change the tenth sequence and render the guidelines ineffective," he said.

Children's film

Following the announcement from the Government that Rs. 25 lakhs will be given to two children's films in a year, many have shown interest in producing them, he said. However, guidelines should be drafted to determine what constitutes a children's film as there are chances that the benefit extended by the Government may be misused, he noted He said the Government will hold a discussion with the State Censor Board on curtailing the glorification of violence and sex in Kannada films.

Reacting to the recent controversy on selection of films for the State awards, he said that though the Government pays attention to the formation of the committee to select films for the awards, it will take more care henceforth.

Special subsidy

Expressing concern over what he termed as the fall in the quality of Kannada films in recent days, he said there are plans to provide subsidy to those who make films based on award-winning Kannada novels.

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