Friday, November 26, 2004

Absurd demands placed before govt.

Kannada film row: ‘Missiles’ hurled at CM
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Kannada organisations, under the leadership of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, intensified their protest against films of other languages, holding a huge dharna at the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.

When Chief Minister Dharam Singh along with other ministers arrived at the venue to try to reassure the cine stars and their supporters that the government would do its best to help the beleaguered Kannada film industry, he was showered with chappals flung at him by some over-enthusiastic agitators.

Earlier, adressing the huge gathering near the west gate of the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday morning, Dr Rajkumar made it clear that Kannadigas are not against other language films. ``Our agitation is not aimed at other language films. We are fighting for the survival of our own language since it is facing stiff competition from other languages,'' he said.

Stating that it was unfortunate that actors had to come out on the streets for the survival of the Kannada language, Dr Rajkumar said, ``We have been fighting for the betterment of the Kannada language for the last five decades without any positive results. The Government should respond to our demands positively.''

He said that he has taken the lead in the agitation despite ill health. ``I am ready to take part in any number of agitations in the future for the survival of Kannada. As long as I have the God's blessings and the fans' affection, I will take part in agitations,'' he said.

Speaking on the occasion, actor Vishnuvardhan said the State Government should address the problems of the Kannada film industry. ``We will continue to fight against other language films which are causing immense loss to Kannada films. Non-Kannadigas, who stay in Karnataka, especially in Bangalore, want jobs in Karnataka and get shelter here. But they do not want to watch Kannada films and speak Kannada. Why is this?'' he asked.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, accompanied by Transport and Water Resources Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge, Revenue Minister M P Prakash and former ministers A Krishnappa, B K Chandrasekhar and MLA Narendra Babu, arrived at the venue. When the Chief Minister began his address, some Over-enthusiastic members of the crowd threw chappals at him.

Assuring the gathering the Chief Minister said, ``My government is committed to protecting the Kannada language. We will definitely do all we can as per the law for the betterment of the Kannada film industry.''

Later addressing reporters, Singh said, ``I have received a memorandum from Dr Rajkumar. I will put their demands before the Cabinet meeting.''

When asked what the Government will do if Kannada associations intensify their stir after November 29, Singh said, "We will take all necessary measures to maintain the law and order situation in the State. If they want to intensify the stir, it is their problem not our problem. We will ensure protection to government and private property."

Singh was stoical about chappals being thrown at him, merely saying, ``I am ready to accept garlands as well as chappals. We have seen such things before.''

Demands of Kannada Film Producers Association:

No release of other language films till the moratorium issue is settled.
The Government should stop the screening of other language films which have violated the three-week moratorium and take action against the exhibitors who have violated the moratorium.
All theatres, including multi-plex theatres, should screen Kannada films.
Impose 100 percent entertainment tax on other language films.
If any distributor wants to screen other language films, he should pay Rs 50 lakh as entry fee to the State Government.
Withdrawal of cases against the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members who took part in the agitation against other language films.
Implement the Mahajan Report since the border issue has not been settled.
Give employment to Kannadigas in the Central Government, State Government, multi-national companies as well as private companies as per the Sarojini Mahishi Report.
Kannada should be made compulsory as the medium of instruction from primary school level.

7 Comments:

At Friday, November 26, 2004 at 10:12:00 AM GMT+5:30, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Absurd in what way?

It is the responsibility of all kannadigas including movie actors to safeguard and protect the intrests of kannada and kannadigas. So, they can atleast bring those topics such as impact of gloabalization. No one has guts to bring those topics. If actors can do it, more power to them. If inellectuals want to build upon this or gte encouraged, film actors efforts would be worthwhile.

 
At Friday, November 26, 2004 at 7:20:00 PM GMT+5:30, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The demand that non kannada movies should be banned till moratorium is implemented or that the moratorium be implemented is surely absurd!! If it is not possible
legally then how can the govrnment meet the demand. By force? Is this not a democratic country? Is karnataka not a part of India??
And also just read the article above the 'absurd demands' article. The CM wants bangalore to be metropoliton!!
Metropoliton, my foot. Bangalore was moving towards being metropoliton, but now with people demanding that only kannada should be used and kannada should be given priority, Bangalore has still some way to go before being metropoliton. I'm not saying that kannada should go away or not be supported, but it should be done in the right way.
I hope that the centre does not give Bangalore a metropoliton status, and also I hope the centre stops aids to karnataka and puts sanctions on karnataka unless these stupid protests are stopped.
Metropoliton?? My foot!!

 
At Friday, November 26, 2004 at 7:45:00 PM GMT+5:30, Anonymous Anonymous said...

'Give employment to Kannadigas in the Central Government, State Government, multi-national companies as well as private companies as per the Sarojini Mahishi Report.
Kannada should be made compulsory as the medium of instruction from primary school level.'

Most of the companies especially MNCs and s/w companies need people with good english. Even if they reserve jobs for kannadigas, how will they cope with the english. For this obviously the medium of instruction should be english everywhere (ofcourse kannada should also be studied). Otherwise how can they make kannada as a compulsory medium of instruction. These are two contradicting demands which cannot be met. So obviously they are absurd!!
And I am sick and tired of reservations at the job level. This reservation will only make others think that kannadigas are backward and need reservations to get a job!! Reservations should be only at the education level. Never in jobs. Give them education (and in the correct medium) and then they will get jobs anywhere without reservations.
Nowadays I'm feeling ashamed of being a kannadiga!!

 
At Friday, November 26, 2004 at 7:54:00 PM GMT+5:30, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The above two messages aptly sum up why the demands are absurd and I think many people were in the protest because the could not avoid it. I don't think people like Vishnuvardhan would support such demands, but he had to, even if only on the outside. Even all kannada actors don't support them, but they cannot openly express it as they are afraid.
I think even i'm beginning to feel ashamed that my fellow kannadigas are stooping to such low levels!!
But i guess as someone rightly said "VIOLENCE IS THE LAST REFUGE OF THE INCOMPETENT"

 
At Friday, November 26, 2004 at 8:13:00 PM GMT+5:30, Blogger The Bangalorean said...

The demands are absurd because of the fundamental assumption that protection to Kannada cinema is equal to promotion of Kannada. Kannada cinema has touched such abysmal depths that even Kannadigas are staying away from them, why talk of people who don't understand Kannada. Atleast one of the leading man or lady can't speak Kannada, playback singers are from Bollywood, music directors from Bollywood, the language has been so vulgarized that no self-respecting Kannadiga would walk into a cinema hall screening a Kannada movie. There is zero originality in the story. Entire screenplays are lifted from other language movies. Take one of the vocal proponents of the moratorium, SV Rajendra Singh Babu. His last movie 'Love' had music by Anu Malik, starred a non-Kannada actress, had songs with English and Hindi lyrics sung by Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan et al. None of them can pronounce a word of Kannada properly. These film makers must take Kannadigas for fools that they suggest protecting such trash is saving the language. Why on earth should the paying public protect a bad product? This agitation is only about saving the investments of the likes of Rajkumar and his extended family, SV Rajendra Singh and assorted other film makers who keep investing in bad eggs and then expect the public to buy them. If the logic of the Kannada film industry is to be accepted then non-Kannada newspapers, magazines and TV Channels should also be banned. At least literature has stayed true to the language.

 
At Saturday, November 27, 2004 at 12:21:00 AM GMT+5:30, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Democratic country? Whenever other states influence the center, the state yields and ultimately, kannadiga's suffer. Karnataka politicians have no love for the state. All they care is vote and money. It is a shame that we have to live in this environment.

I wonder what takes our people including politicians to honestly help ourselves rather than just rhetoric.

Any effort should be done within the construct of Indian constitution, but with so much of power vesting in the hands of outsiders and corrupt judicial system at the center, will we ever get justice?

 
At Saturday, November 27, 2004 at 5:58:00 AM GMT+5:30, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It worries me that people refer to other Indians as "outsiders". Will there be an India as we know it today, in a few years?

 

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