Kannada film industry declares all-out war

Film shutdown from Thursday
KFCC Keeps Out; Dharnas, Picketing,Withdrawal Of Films Planned
Times of India

Bangalore: The attack has begun: fuming at government “indifference’’ and exhibitors’ defiance of the moratorium on other language movie releases in the state, the Kannada film industry on Sunday announced its voluntary shutdown and called for a state-wide “Gokak style’’ agitation.

A week after Hindi film Veer-Zaara was released in Bangalore defying the three-week moratorium, a stage-by-stage action plan was announced after a meeting attended by almost all industry stalwarts here. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), which is trying to negotiate with Film Federation of India and other state industries, kept away.

Newly appointed industry spokesperson Mukhyamantri Chandru told The Times of India: “We are ready for anything now. Rajkumar is leading us and he told us he is even ready to go to jail for the cause.’’ The film industry shutdown will begin from Thursday. Besides stopping shooting and other film activity, new Kannada releases will not come, while even running films maybe taken out of theatres. The street-level agitation which will also begin on Thursday will be announced by Rajkumar: a dharna at the Kengal Hanumantaiah statue outside the Vidhana Soudha. “We’ll sit there even if the police don’t give us permission. We’ll also not accept an invitation for further talks with the government: it is action or nothing for us now,’’ Chandru said.

The Kannada umbrella will be widened to include activists, litterateurs and organisations and issues like implementation of the Mahajan, Sarojini Mahishi and Nanjundappa reports. On November 29, a public rally will be held on the theme — insult to Kannada films is insult to Kannada — and theatres screening movies violative of the three-week moratorium, will be picketed in batches.

Then a state-wide awareness campaign will be launched. “We’ll hammer the point that these theatres have humiliated not only Kannada films, but also the state government which supported the gentleman’s agreement of a three-week moratorium,’’ Chandru said. The industry has suggested several measures to the government, which will impose the moratorium without violating the Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court orders. “We don’t want to violate the law. But permits of the theatres could be reviewed. A huge entry tax — of about Rs 50 lakh — could be imposed on simultaneous release. A law could be passed stating a nonmember of KFCC cannot take a trade decision from Delhi or Mumbai and release movies here,’’ sources said.

The final point of agitation will be a Vidhana Soudha gherao. “If the government does not extend support to us, we have no choice,’’ film producers association president Basant Kumar Patil stated. Government sources, however said: “Before Thursday something will happen, the CM may deal with it. Let us see.’’

The action plan

Stage I (November 25): shutdown of the industry; Rajkumar led dharna at Vidhana Soudha.
Stage II (Nov 29): rally with Kannada organisations, picketing of theatres.
Stage III: district-level agitations, jail bharo, awareness programme.
Stage IV: Picketing of Vidhana Soudha.

Suggestions to the govt

Review permits of theatres violating moratorium.
Cut off amenities to them.
Levy entry tax of about Rs 50 lakh on simultaneous release.
Pass a statement that a KFCC non-member cannot release movies here.