Bangalore: Kannada should be popularised all over the world and the Vishwa Kannada Sammelan (international Kannada conference), which will be held in Belgaum as part of Suvarna Karnataka celebrations, is a step in that direction, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Sunday.

At a function organised by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and the Kannada Chalanachitra Kalavidara Sangha to felicitate him on becoming Chief Minister, and his wife Anita Kumaraswamy, he called upon members of the film industry to support the Government in making the conference a success.

Reacting to the memorandum of demands given to him by the film chamber, which included increased subsidy for all Kannada films, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that being a person from the industry he would extend full support to the industry and that he would concede to all their demands.

"My aim is to make Karnataka the number one State in the country and to give Kannada the pride of place it deserves," he said.

Reminiscing his younger days, he said that he had always been a big fan of late Rajkumar.

"I have always tried to emulate the values that he projected through his characters in his films, be it concern for the underprivileged or values of modesty and generosity," Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

He added that when he opened his cinema in Mysore in his younger days, the first movie that he screened was a Rajkumar film called "Bhagyada Laksmi Baramma".

Members of the Film Chamber of Commerce requested the Chief Minister to give increased subsidies of Rs. 10 lakh to Kannada films.

Actor Ambarish said that the Government should give sites at concessional rates to labourers in the film industry.

Kannada actors Vishnuvardhan, Shivarajkumar, director Nagabharana, Film Chamber of Commerce president, H.D. Gangaraj, wife of Dr. Rajkumar Parvathamma Rajkumar and other members of the film industry were present at the function.

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