Govt gives up, HC orders protection for theatres, Rajkumar to lead stir

Narrow personal considerations are sullying the fair name of Kannada and Karnataka. Its a pity that a veteran like Rajkumar is leading an agigation with clear vested interests instead of exhorting the Kannada filmdom to produce quality cinema.

Rajkumar-led stir likely on Nov. 24
Karnataka Govt Now Steers Clear Of Moratorium Row
Times of India

Bangalore: After playing a weeklong “hide and seek’’ with chief minister N. Dharam Singh, the Kannada film industry is planning to go ahead with its agitation against theatres screening new non-Kannada releases from November 24.

The government appears to have washed its hands of the affair. Official sources told The Times of India: “The moratorium was not a government decision. It was taken by the film industry. The government cannot take action against anyone who violates it; we cannot intervene as the matter is in court.’’

After an informal meeting at cine star Rajkumar’s residence on Friday, held under the guise of the muhurat for his son Puneet’s yet-to-be-named film, industry sources said: “We’ve been waiting in good faith for the CM to meet us, as we gave him our word that we won’t agitate till then. He called us on Thursday and cancelled it. So we’ve decided to go ahead.’’

Still a section of the industry has not given up hope. Singh, who returned from Hyderabad on Friday, left for Gulbarga and is expected to return to Bangalore on Sunday.

“The government has always been at the table when we discussed both moratoria — for seven weeks and three weeks. We want to wait and see what the CM has to say,’’ producerdirector Rajendra Singh Babu said. A full-fledged “opinion gathering’’ film industry meet is scheduled for Sunday to chalk out the action plan. As of now, the plan is: from November 24, the entire industry led by Rajkumar will take to the streets.

Kannada activists, led by the Karunadu Sene, said they were in talks with the film industry to see how they could contribute. “We’ve another agitation planned on November 25 against hoardings and boards that don’t display Kannada prominently. After that, we’ll take active part,’’ Sene chief Sridhar said.

The exhibitors, meanwhile, armed with legal support from both Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court, followed up the release of Shah Rukh Khan-Preity Zinta starrer Veer-Zaara in three theatres with three more on Friday.
Amidst tight security, Rex and Sri Balaji screened the movie four shows and Innovative Multiplex held two shows.
Giving them a further shot in the arm, Karnataka High Court judge Justice Abdul Nazeer Sab, hearing a petition filed by Cauvery and Vaibhav, directed the government to “take note’’ of their plea that protesters should not be permitted within 500 meters of the theatres. The government advocate told the court that necessary protection has been provided and would continue to be there.