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Actors, producers at daggers drawn

Muralidhara Khajane

KFCC ban on Ramya evokes criticism

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) ‘banning' popular actor Ramya for a year, and the Kannada Film Producers' Association (KFPA) asking another star, Pooja Gandhi, to apologise to a producer, appear to have created an unprecedented standoff between actors and producers.

Even as KFCC president Basanth Kumar Patil defended the action against the actors, there has been widespread disapproval of the developments that have cast a shadow on the entire film industry. Many have extended support to the actors.

Meanwhile, Pooja Gandhi has filed a suit in the City Civil Court seeking a direction to producer-director Shivaganapathi to pay the amount due to her.

Frustrated with the developments, industry representatives have likened the action against Ramya to ‘making a mountain out of a molehill'.

‘Unwarranted'

“The development is unwarranted when only six of the 45 films released in the past six months have succeeded at the box office. Now it is time to introspect and concentrate on rejuvenating the industry by producing good films,” said Cinema Workers' Federation (CWF) president Ashok.

Taking serious exception to the KFCC banning Ramya, he said that the chamber, being the umbrella organisation, should have behaved in a more responsible manner. At the same time, representatives of various sections of the film industry have questioned the propriety of Mr. Patil announcing the ban on Ramya without consulting the executive committee of the KFCC.

A member of the KFCC executive committee, ‘Mars' Suresh, said that Mr. Patil could have consulted the executive committee or members of the high power committee formed to discuss issues plaguing the industry.

Rockline Venkatesh, general secretary of the Kannada Film Artists' Association (KFAA), said the KFCC had blown the issue of out of proportion by portraying an individual issue as an industry issue.

‘Ban is not the answer'

National award-winning actor Umashree said banning an actor from Kannada films was not an answer to the problem. “Actors of yesteryear used to compromise on payment keeping the interests of the film industry in mind, but present-day actors fight for their rights.”

Mr. Patil denied the charge that he did not consult the executive committee and said that the decision not to sign Ramya for any Kannada film for one year had been taken at a meeting attended by heads of the producers, directors, cameramen and outdoor unit associations. “Though we sent a formal invitation to the KFAA, none of the office-bearers attended. However, the KFCC is still open to a dialogue,” he noted.

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