Movie ban takes turn for the worse

The lumpen elements jump into the battle.

Kannada activists threatens agitation
Deccan Herald

BANGALORE, SEPT. 5. The Kannada Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation, on Sunday threatened to intensify the stir against the screening of the non-Kannada films in the State.

T.A. Narayana Gowda, vedike president, said it would intensify the agitation if the cinema owners, who have closed down many of the cinemas in protest against the seven-week ban on release of new non-Kannada movies, did not relent.

The vedike would seek screening of Hindi, Tamil and Telagu films only in one cinema in every city and only in the morning shows in one cinema at the district headquarters. It would not allow non-Kannada films to be screened in taluk headquarters, he said.

The vedike activists were ready to "sacrifice their lives to enforce such a ban," he said. The time was ripe for such a movement, he said wondering why the film stars had not expressed their views in this regard.

He said the cinemas such as Urvashi and Apsara, which screened only Kananda films years ago, had now become "strong bastions" of non-Kannada films. S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu, President of Karnataka Film Directors' Association, criticised Yash Chopra, Hindi film producer, for expressing reservations against the seven-week ban on new non-Kannada films in the State.

Director’s cut: Boot out KFCC chief demand
Kannada films are sure to perish like Marathi, Oriya and others if other language films are not restricted. This trend has to be curbed, says Rajendra Singh Babu
Deccan Herald

Kannada Film Directors’ Association President S V Rajendra Singh Babu on Sunday said the Kannada film industry along with various Kannada organisations would launch a Statewide “save Kannada” movement to protect the language and culture.

“The movement will be on the lines of Gokak movement of yesteryears and all issues related to Kannada, including the present film industry stalemate over delayed release of non-Kannada films, would be raised,” Mr Babu said, speaking at a discussion organised by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike in Bangalore.

“They (non-Kannada exhibitors) have dominated all theatres in the State and have been denying cinema halls for Kannada films in Karnataka.

Mr Babu said Kannada organisations have also decided to bar screening of noted Hindi film Director Yash Chopra’s movies in the State, until the latter apologises for making a “derogatory” statement against Kannada film industry.

“Who is he (Chopra) to comment on us? What does he know about problems being faced by the industry here? Until he apologises none of his films will be screened,” he said.

He criticised Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) President S Ramesh for “favouring” non-Kannada films in the present dispute. “He (Mr Ramesh) has cast an eclipse on the entire film industry. He should be booted out of KFCC,” he thundered.

The Vedike has warned of dire consequences if distributors and exhibitors of other language films carry out the proposed “solidarity march” against government’s moratorium on release of non-Kannada films.

“No Bollywood actor will be allowed to participate in the march. If at all the march is taken out, all theatres screening non-Kannada movies will be targeted,” Vedike President T A Narayana Gowda warned.

No new films release from Sunday
Deccan Herald

Until a free environment for screening of films of all languages is available, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation has decided to indefinitely stall release of new films, including Kannada, from Sunday.

An emergency meeting of the Federation in Hubli took this decision, Federation President R R Odugowdar told reporters.

The State government decision to enforce seven-weeks delayed release of new, non-Kannada films had cost exhibitors dearly. Besides, owners of theatres screening non-Kannada films were being attacked although official notification of the decision was still awaited. Hence, new releases would be stopped until an amicable settlement is reached with the co-operation of producers.

He said there was a dearth of good Kannada films. More than 150 exhibitors from 21 districts attended the meeting.