Other language films set to defy three-week ban

Other language films set to defy three-week ban
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: If newspaper ads about the release of new Hindi films are any indication, it seems the three-week moratorium on other language films is set to be defied from Friday. Though no distributor has been so far bold enough to release Hindi films here, the producers of Aitraaz, Veer-Zaara and Naach have made arrangements for each movie's simultaneous nationwide release.

The buzz is that these producers have entered into agreements with exhibitors in Bangalore and made arrangements to release the films in over a dozen of the city's top theatres. ``Since no distributor came forward to release these films in Karnataka, the producers of those films are releasing them on their own,'' says an exhibitor.

If the number of theatres where these films are being released is anything to go by, the six-print norm on other language films is also set to be defied. Veer-Zaara is slated to be released at Abhinay, Urvashi, Symphony, Cauvery, Naga, Swagath, Vaibhav, Innovative Multiplex and PVR Cinema - the new multiplex at the Forum.

Aitraaz will be screened at Kailash, Plaza, Parimala, Anand, Innovative Multiplex and PVR Cinema. The third Bollywwod flick, Naach, has booked Sagar, Rex, Ajanta, Radhakrishna, Parilama, Cauvery, Innovative Multiplex and PVC Cinema for screenings. The Tamil film Manmathan is slated to hit the screens on Friday but theatres have not been shortlisted.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce is expected to meet on Tuesday to take the stock of the situation. ``We are planning to meet on Tuesday to discuss all the issues related to the Kannada film industry,'' says Basantkumar Patil, president of the Kannada Film Producers' Association over phone from Hubli.