BANGALORE: Two days before the State film awards function, to be held at Ramanagaram in Bangalore Rural district on Saturday, Commissioner for Information K.V.R. Tagore admitted violation of norms in the selection of two films, "Mona Lisa" and "Gowdru", for the 2004-05 awards under different categories.

Mr. Tagore told presspersons here on Thursday he will draw the Government's attention to the issue as it involves the prestige of the awards. He said the Government expected the committee constituted to select the award winners to rectify the lapses, following media reports and submission of a memorandum by a group of reputed film makers, including Girish Kasaravalli, Kavitha Lankesh, B. Suresh and P. Seshadri.

Mr. Tagore said it is not too late to draw the Government's attention to the issue. It has the right to withdraw the award at any time, even after the event, he added.

The team of film makers and others had drawn the Government's attention to the copy of "Mona Lisa" submitted to the awards committee and the one screened in cinema halls. They reportedly provided documentary evidence to prove that the copy submitted to the awards committee had been re-edited. Distributor of the film V.H. Suresh, who was a member of the committee, reportedly confirmed that this was a fact, and was against the selection of the film for award.

Memorandum

In a memorandum, the film makers said Regional Censor Chandrashekhar had written to the Government that screening, re-editing or modifying a censored film without the approval of censors was a cognisable offence.

According to the filmmakers, "Mona Lisa" is a thematic adaptation of the Tamil film, "Parthiban Kanavu" and "Gowdru" a remake of Bharatiraja's Tamil hit, "Kelakku Seemeyele".

Mr. Tagore said Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy will participate in the awards function.

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