Karnataka's reputation takes a severe beating

Film industry: A parody on Karnataka's hospitality
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The ongoing tug-of-war between exhibitors and producers getting murkier day by day. Perhaps, Karnataka is the only State where this type of unjustified and undemocratic methods are being used for survival of Kannada films.

The outcome of the tussle is: Two journalists were injured on Saturday while six Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members were admitted into hospitals with injuries when they tried to attack non-Kannada theatres. If the dramatic developments for the last two months are any indication, it seems the State Government has not evinced any interest to solve the problem. A few self-prophesied messiahs of the Kannada film industry are dictating terms to cinegoers.

The people who make a lot of noise about Kannada films are few and their contribution as a producer or distributor or exhibitor is minimum. For example, most of the producers, who are most vociferous against other language films, are jobless. While some of them are not able to release their own films, majority of them wander on Gandhinagar streets.

Karnataka is known for peace and development. Kannadigas are famous for their hospitality. With the growth of public sector units and IT companies, Bangalore, once a small town, has transitioned into a cosmopolitan city and expanded its wings without any limitations. So far, except for the Cauvery water issue, people have lived in harmony. But the recent developments in the Kannada film industry are not a good sign for peace and tranquility in Karnataka, especially in Bangalore. Fortunately or unfortunately, some people have gained the upper hand in the film industry and are dictating terms and conditions to other language films.

They are demanding the release of other language films, seven weeks after their release elsewhere. That’s not all, the number of prints released should not exceed six. Unfortunately, these people fail to realise the menace of piracy. They fail to understand the basics of film business, which is vulnerable to the malady of piracy. Due to this unexpected and unanticipated trouble, Bangaloreans have lost an opportunity to watch Hindi film Dhoom and English film Bride and Prejudice.

The seven-week ban on other language films may not permit Chiru fans to watch his latest film Shankar Dada M.B.B.S which is set to release on October 24 in remaining parts of South India. As far as loss for the distributors, it is estimated that a Hindi film distributor is set to lose Rs 50 lakh due to seven-week norm since he has paid advance amount for more than 10 Hindi films. It is not clear whether the Telugu film distributor has paid an advance amount for Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.

There are 115 cinema theatres in Bangalore and 75 of them depend on non-Kannada films. Non-Kannada films contributed Rs 33 crore revenue to the State Government. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the apex body of film industry, has failed miserably to mitigate the problems. It’s former president S. Ramesh, being a politician, always tried to keep three sectors – producers, exhibitors and distributors – in good humour but in vain. Many feel that KFCC was the main culprit by allowing other language film distributors to release more and more prints in Bangalore.

For example, an agreement was signed between Kannada film producers and distributors of other language films in 1996 when Deve Gowda was the Chief Minister. As per the agreement, distributors can release other language films simultaneously with not more than four prints. Later, all of them realised that it was difficult to implement and no one bothered about the number of prints till the last few months.

The problem began when the Telugu film Samba was released with 22 prints and it became complicated with one more Telugu film Gharshana released with more than 17 prints. The Kannada Film Producers’ Association succeeded in roping Kannada matinee idol Dr. Rajkumar to address the protest rally along with number of artistes. They also availed the services of Kannada fanatics like R.S. Gowda and others to make the protest complete.

After few days it became a free for all with some people attacking Movieland theatre and two non-Kannada film distribution offices causing considerable damage. They even did not spare the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce office. During the last year, 102 Kannada films were released against the 1,200 theatres in the State. This year not more than 72 Kannada films are set to release, a 30 per cent decline in just a year. The State Government has formed a sub-committee to solve Kannada film industry crisis recently.

But many consider it as an absurd. They say the very formation of the committee is itself a parody. For example, the issue is related to non-Kannada film distributors but the representatives on the committee are Smt. Parvathamma Rajkumar and Rockline Venkatesh, who are known as producers than distributors.

If the State Government fails to interfere for an amicable solution, it is set to lose crores of rupees revenue from non-Kannada films. In a desperate attempt, the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce has requested Film Federation of India, South Indian Film Chambers of Commerce and Andhra Pradesh Film Chambers of Commerce to convene an emergency meeting on October 15 to find an amicable solution.

Will they or won’t they? We have to wait and watch.