SELECTED: Film Subsidy Selection Committee Chairperson Jayamala handing over the report to Information and Publicity Minister B. Shivaram in Bangalore Tuesday.

BANGALORE: The committee for selection of quality films in Kannada and those that deserve financial assistance, has selected 16 films from the 58 applications received by it.

Committee Chairperson Jayamala, after submitting its report to Information Minister B. Shivaram, told presspersons on Monday that their main objective has been to keep out films that have been remade or dubbed. Producers of several such films wanted to be considered for financial assistance.

After receiving a representation from Ms. Jayamala about the problems faced by the industry, Mr. Shivaram said he will call a meeting of film industry representatives on January 9, to address issues of the Kannada film industry.

`Disregard for rules'

Ms. Jayamala said many producers who disregarded rules on funding remakes and dubbed movies, also file false affidavits and provide false information to mislead the Government and claim financial assistance. She said the rules must be reframed so that there is no ambiguity.

She also wanted an advisory committee to examine the claims made by filmmakers about remakes or original movies. It will also ensure that a database is created and a system of checks and balances is put in place. The committee will reject all movies, which come under the category of remakes or dubbed movies.

An alternative

Ms. Jayamala said the committee headed by her felt that instead of selecting 20 movies of quality for the grant of Rs. 10 lakhs each under the current system, movies should be classified as A, B or C grade and given assistance under a slab system. "A" grade movies will include films that have won national or international awards, films selected for the Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India, or those featuring in international film festivals.

"B" grade movies will be those doing well at the State-level, which are aesthetic, have social relevance and enrich the literary, historical and folklore traditions of the media. "C" grade will be remakes or those banking on obscenity and vulgarity.

Those and other issues, including the industry's fears over reported plans to shelve Film City project at Hessarghatta, will figure at the January 9 meeting. Mr. Shivaram said that the Government has no intention of changing plans about the Film City. "Let there be no apprehension about it. The Government has no intention of pandering to real estate compulsions to dispose of the land or shelve the project."

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