Exhibitors decide to continue screening of non-Kannada films

Forget quality, can they supply enough Kannada films?'
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: As the producers-exhibitors tussle on the seven-week moratorium for non-Kannada films continues, allegations and counter-allegations fly thick and fast.

In an interview to this website’s newspaper, R.R. Odugoudar, president of the Gadag-based Karnataka Film Exhibitors' Federation, gives his take on the controversy.

On how exhibitors are just as committed to Kannada, how they are willing to screen Kannada films provided there is an uninterrupted supply, and why producers have suddenly become so very pro-Kannada.

Excerpts:

Why do you oppose the seven-week ban on non-Kannada films since it is a move aimed at promoting the Kannada film industry?
We are not against Kannada films. But what can we do when most of them do not run beyond a day or two. Take, for instance, Anand Nilaya. The exhibitors had to wind it up after only one show.

Why is this?
Because of poor quality. Gone are the days of popular films like Shankar Guru, Bangarada Manushya, Ranga Nayaki, Belli Moda, Bhootayyana Maga Aiyya etc which used to run to packed houses even after 100 days. Get us at least films like Yajamaana, Kanasugaaraand even the ones without any star-value like Chandra Chakori and Excuse Me and we will exhibit them for days on end.Unfortunately, not even two percent of the new age Kannada films are of quality and they don't run for even a day or two. Exhibitors are ready to screen only Kannada films provided the distributors supply them with films uninterruptedly. There are instances of producers or distributors not being able to do so. The Laxmi theatre in Dharwad, for instance, had obliged the Kannada film world by stopping the screening of Madhoshi, a Hindi film. But the distributors did not supply any Kannada film as an alternative. Should he have closed the theatre?

The Chief Minister has called a meeting on Thursday for a discussion on the issue. What would you plead for?
In the first place, I have not received an invitation for the meeting. If invited, I will plead for removing the moratorium on non-Kannada films. No state in the country has imposed such a ban on other-language films. We should be free to screen films which people like and which protect our sector.

Producers and actors have charged that most exhibitors in the State are non-Kannadigas and hence less committed to the Kannada cause?
It is all bunkum. In fact, the commitment to Kannada by those in the film world itself is questionable. We don't have to learn from those who, for years, went to the studios of other states for shooting and stifled to death studios set up by stalwarts like Abbayya Naidu, Basavaraju, Balakrishna etc in Karnataka. None of the Kannada film world went to Basavaraju's house to pay homage after his death. Puneet Rajkumar has acted in a movie produced by a Telugu. The heroine, villain and music director in Rajendra Singh Babu's Love (note, the title itself is an English word) are all non-Kannadigas and the film itself is shot outside Karnataka. You know why most of them have now turned to Karnataka and are talking of protecting Kannada films? Because of the subsidy being given by the government. It is ironical that those who had tried to suppress Kannada should now be talking of protecting it.

Are you contemplating legal action against the seven-week moratorium?
The question does not arise. What is it that we will be challenging in a court of law? The moratorium is based on a memorandum made by Dr. Rajkumar and others to Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah without the Government following it up with an act or order.

Karnataka Film Producers' Association president Basanthkumar Patil and others have demanded your expulsion from the high level committee headed by Pandey?
After losing the post of president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Patil has to make up for the loss of face he suffered. So he has turned to me. He has even called me mad and ‘Mallappa Shetty’ (who helped the British track down and kill Kittur Channama). But I have to protect my sector.

Producers and directors have accused exhibitors of harbouring ‘goondas’ while referring to the incidents at the Multiplex in Bangalore)?
I have condemned the incidents. But allegations of harbouring goondas are baseless. The fact that the handful of Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists could get away without even being questioned on what they did was itself proof that we had nobody there in our defence.

How do you hope to resolve the deadlock?
On our part, we continue to defy the moratorium and screen non-Kannada films until the Kannada film world promises to protect the exhibitors' interests. We plead for free enterprise - freedom to screen films of the people's choice. We have promises from the film producers and distributors of Mumbai and other states to supply us their films for screening.