Kumaraswamy, Ambarish criticise film rally

Kumaraswamy, Ambarish criticise film rally
Deccan Herald

Janata Dal (S) Working President H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday alleged that the proposed Kannada film industry protest on November 25 was “politically motivated”, while actor and MP Ambarish expressed surprise at industry leaders ignoring sincere efforts of the government to resolve the crisis.

Participating in a meet the press programme organised by the Bangalore Press Club, Mr Kumaraswamy even questioned the claims of film industry that its struggle was aimed at protecting the Kannada language as well as the land and people of Karnataka.

“If it is so, why these people were silent when the state faced problems such as Cauvery river water sharing,” he questioned and observed that it was not possible for the film industry alone to save the land, language and people of the state.

He also wondered why the film industry, which professes to fight for the cause of Kannadigas, has not taken up the issue of Kannadigas not getting employment in multinational companies that are coming up in Bangalore. He did not agree with those comparing the proposed struggle of the Kannada film industry to Gokak agitation. The context of both the agitations was different, he argued.

Mr Kumaraswamy, who is also a producer and distributor, said he was not participating in the film industry protest. But he was always ready to support any honest effort for the sake of Kannada language or the state.

He observed that neither the two-week moratorium on release of new non-Kannada films was constitutionally a correct step, nor would it help develop Kannada film industry. “It is the responsibility of producers to improve the quality of production and provide good movies such as Bangarada Manushya,” he argued.
Mr Ambarish, meanwhile, told reporters who met him in Mysore that industry leaders, including Parvathamma Rajkumar, had reached a concensus on resolving the crisis and were now going back on it.