Concern over plan to release films

Concern over plan to release films
The Hindu

BANGALORE, NOV. 8. The reported decision of some film producers based in Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad to release Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films, respectively, in the State on Friday is likely to complicate the tussle in the film industry over the three-week moratorium on the release of new non-Kannada films, according to sources. It may even create law and order problems, sources say.

"No one can deny the legal rights of these producers to release their films simultaneously. But forcing simultaneous releases in the Rajyotsava month, which is marked by increasing Kannada activities and the launch of the broad-based Karunaada Sene, a forum supported by many Kannada organisations, including the Kannada Sahitya Parishat and fan associations, does not augur well either for Kannada or non-Kannada films," sources in cultural and literary circles say. The chances of the volatile scenario worsening and leading to a linguistic backlash cannot be ruled out, they warn.

Sources in the cinema industry told The Hindu that as a matter of business ethics, no exhibitor or distributor could afford to violate the "accord" on the three-week moratorium. But in the light of the Karnataka High Court ruling on the legal sanction of the moratorium, some producers from outside the State were reportedly making preparations to accommodate simultaneous release of five non-Kannada films with the help of some exhibitors in the State, with scant respect to social harmony, sources said.

The non-Kannada films scheduled for release on Friday at over 35 cinemas across the State are: Naach, Itharaz, Veer Zaara (all Hindi), Manmathan (Tamil) and Chetti (Telugu). The Kannada film to be released is Nalla. The proposed release of the non-Kannada films is likely to violate the norm stipulated by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on the number of prints. According to the norm, which is also a part of the "accord," the number of prints of non-Kannada films should not exceed six at a time, according to the sources.

Meeting fails

Sensing the impending trouble, the KFCC convened an emergency meeting on Saturday. But it could not make much headway as representatives of exhibitors did not turn up. Many distributors reportedly felt that they had been "deceived" by some producers and exhibitors from outside. The decision to release the five non-Kannada films, if implemented, would endanger harmony in the industry and also its future. The development had put the KFCC in a spot, the sources said.

Sources in the Kannada Film Producers' Association said: "Kannada cinema knows that releasing five non-Kannada films simultaneously by a set of people is an adventure at the wrong time. It wishes this does not happen. If it does, it would help strengthen the cause of Kannada cinema. Those who are taking the State for granted are bound to suffer serious setbacks in the near future. They may succeed in releasing their films, but can they attract the Deepavali crowd in the presence of police? It is time exhibitors and producers from outside defer their plans for some time and prevent a tragedy."