Activists 'fake' immolation in front of theatres

Kannada activists attempt self-immolation
Vijay Times

Bangalore: The ongoing rift in the Kannada filmdom took a violent turn on Tuesday when a few Kannada activists tried to self-immolate in front of Cauvery theatre, which screened new Hindi film "Veer Zaara" on Monday, defying the three week moratorium on the release of new non-Kannada films.

Three activists sustained serious injuries, while police took 12 persons into preventive custody. Chief Minister N Dharam Singh has assured to call an emergency meeting of all sectors of Kannada film industry on Thursday.
Following the release of Veer Zaara at Cauvery theatre on Monday, two other theatres--Prabhath and Swagath--also screened the movie on Tuesday amidst tight police security.

Protesting against this, hundreds of KRV activists staged a protest in front of Cauvery theatre. A few of then went to the extreme step of self-immolating by pouring kerosene on them. Police thwarted their efforts and took them into custody. However, shows at all there theatres went on under tight police vigil.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Film Producers Association has demanded an immediate dismissal of owners of the three theatres from Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. The Association President Basanth Kumar Patil who met the Chamber President HD Gangaraju urged to initiate stern action against the exhibitors for violating the moratorium.

Later in the evening, a delegation led by Parvathamma Rajkumar, Patil and the Directors Association President Rajendra Singh Babu met the Chief Minister Dharam Singh and Deputy CM Sidharamaiah. Patil said the CM has assured the delegation to call a high level meeting on Thursday to find a solution to the deadlock. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation President R R Oodugoudar said that a few exhibitors in North Karnataka were also thinking of releasing new non-Kannada films. But, he added, that they will have to seek the permission from respective deputy commissioners to release new non-Kannada films.