CM hopes to end film industry imbroglio by Monday

CM steps in, averts showdown
Exhibitors Wait Till Oct 18; Producers Cancel Bellary Chalo
Times of India

Exhibitors agree to stall release of non-Kannada films till October 18, when deputy CM Siddaramaiah will discuss the seven-week moratorium with the Pandey film panel. Producers and artistes cancel plans to go to Bellary to stop the film release.

Theatre bandh successful: Other than Bellary, Mandya, Davanagere, nearly 800 theatres closed all over the state to protest the attacks on three theatres in Bangalore. Thursday was a day crackling with activity. Though theatres were shut, Vidhana Soudha was abuzz, as the CM directly negotiated with exhibitors asking them not to defy the seven-week moratorium.

After a 45-minute meeting, Singh told reporters: “I told them I had spoken to producers including Parvathamma Rajkumar on Wednesday. I requested the exhibitors also to wait till October 18, when deputy CM Siddaramaiah will discuss the issue and make the state’s stand clear.’’

Singh has been under pressure not only from other film industries, but from the Centre. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also spoke to me sometime ago. But he knows that Karnataka is a peaceful state. I told him I am also trying my best to ensure everything goes smoothly.’’

The exhibitors were initially hesitant to agree. Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation president R.P. Odugoudar said: “Distributors in Bellary have already paid huge amounts for the rights to screen Chiranjeevi’s Shankardada MBBS. We want to concede to the CM’s request, but it will be difficult to convince them.’’

Hectic parleys took place between the Federation and Bellary exhibitors, followed by a meeting at the residence of Bellary district-incharge minister M.P. Prakash in Bangalore. Sources said Prakash managed to convince the Bellary exhibitors to wait.

The producers and artistes, who had threatened to rush down to Bellary to stall the release of Shankardada, were on standby the whole day till the exhibitors decision was made known. “Since they have agreed, we have cancelled the Bellary trip,’’ Kannada Film Producers Association president Basant Kumar Patil said.

Two Kannada movies — Darshanstarrer Kalasipalya and Kashinath’s Aha Nanna Tangi Madve Anthe — are releasing this Friday. Sevenweek old English film Ananconda 2 is also hitting the screens.

No shows:

A welcome off-shoot of the theatre bandh in Bangalore was smooth movement of traffic at the usually busy cinema junctions. At the same time, it also meant huge losses to exhibitors. Abhinay theatre owner Bhoopalam P. Ashok said: “Our weekly rental is Rs 1.40 lakh. Today alone, we’ve lost Rs 20,000.’’