Pro-Kannada activists to prevent entry to theatres screening new non-Kannada films

Pro-Kannada bodies to keep vigil at theatres
Times of India

Bangalore: Release of new Hindi films —Veer Zaara, Naach and Aitraaz — scheduled for Friday may not happen, despite the Supreme Court and the Karnataka High Court directive.

Reason: several pro-Kannada organisations, including the newly launched Karunadu Sene, announced on Tuesday that a human chain will be formed to block audiences from going to theatres screening these films. Sene chief and editor of tabloid Agni, Sridhar, told The Times of India’: “We cannot stop release of the films as the courts have decided otherwise. So, we are appealing to the audiences not go to the theatres.”

After an apex meeting of Kannada filmdom with several Kannada organisations, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the DSS, an action plan has been devised.

Exhibitors in quandary: Though the releases are coming directly to them from Mumbai — without a distributor in Karnataka — they are not sure whether they can take on the pro-Kannada organisations. “It is a business for us. We cannot always be on the guard hoping that nothing will happen,’’ an exhibitor contended.

The exhibitors’ association in Bangalore has left the decision on screening new releases to individual theatres. “It is the government that has to say something about it and talk to the FFI. The Kannada film industry is not giving new films and not allowing others to either. What can exhibitors do in this situation?’’ association president B.S. Arun Kumar asked.

North Karnataka has already decided to follow the moratorium. “We are however releasing Hindi film Mughal-E-Azam this Friday: it is not a violation because it is a 30-yearold film”, an exhibitor maintained. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has called an emergency executive committee meeting on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.

Karunadu Sene’s agenda: By November 25, all signboards and hoardings have to give Kannada primary importance. Else, they will do it themselves; Brigade Road should be renamed Basavanna Road; Commercial Street as Tipu Sultan Road; The three-week moratorium on new other language releases should be followed.