Two more theatres, one more film to defy ban

Mr. Kambara should not confuse the need to protect and promote Kannada with protection for the trash that the Kannada film industry routinely churns out.


Two more theatres, one more film to defy ban
The protestors who staged a dharna in front of KFCC demanded the resignation of office-bearers for their inability to stop exhibitors from defying moratorium.

Deccan Herald

With the proposed meeting of the Chief Minister N Dharam Singh with all sectors of the film industry being put off abruptly, two more theatre owners - Rex and Sribalaji - in Bangalore have come forward to screen new Hindi film Veer-Zaara on Friday.

With this, Yash Chopra’s film will be screened in five theatres, including the existing three cinema halls in the city. Exhibitors continued to screen the film in three theatres in all four shows amidst heavy police protection and protests from Kannada organisations on Thursday. However, the screening of the movie was not disrupted.

Besides, Mahesh Dattani’s Morning Raga (English), which is already released elsewhere in the country, will hit the screen on Friday at the Innovative Multiplex.
CM’s meeting

Though the Chief Minister had promised to hold talks with all sectors of the industry on Thursday to end the row, the meeting could not take place as the former was preoccupied with his hectic schedules.

According to sources in the Chief Minister’s office, the meeting is unlikely to be held on Friday too. Representatives of the Kannada Film Producers’ Association, on the other hand, are planning to take yet another delegation to the Chief Minister if they are not invited for talks.

Theatres move court

Proprietors of Cauvery and Vaibhav theatres, which are screening Hindi film Veer Zaara, have moved the High Court seeking a direction to the police not to permit protests or dharnas near their theatres.

The petitioners have said that the protests carried out by the activists, claiming that they were the members of Kannada Rakshana Vedike, near the theatres were causing serious hardship to the public, who come to the theatres to watch movies. Besides, the demonstrators were threatening the people not to go to the theatres to watch Hindi films, the petitioners alleged.

They have also pointed out that the demonstration by these people near the theatres was causing traffic jams on the roads leading to the theatres and thus affecting general public.

The petitioners have sought a direction to the police not to allow the activists to hold dharnas or protests within 500 meter distance from the theatres.
Justice S Abdul Nazeer, who heard the preliminary arguments on the petitions, adjourned further hearing to November 19.

Protest

Hundreds of Sena activists led by Kannada writer Chandrashekara Kambara staged a peaceful protest in front of Cauvery theatre in the morning, demanding withdrawal of film screening. The protesters shouted slogans against the exhibitors and the theatre owner.

Speaking to reporters, Chandrashekara Kambara called upon both State government and the Centre to chalk out an action plan to protect and promote regional languages in the country. Due to the onslaught and influence of English and Hindi languages, regional languages are facing the threat of extinction, he added.

Quoting from a latest survey by a new portal, he said that Kannada language is facing major threat compared to other South Indian languages. “It is high time that Kannadigas take cudgels against the onslaught and protect their language,” he stated.

Activists of Akila Karnataka Kannada Chaluvali Kendra Samith staged a protest in front of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) building. The protesters demanded resignation of KFCC president and other office bearers for their “inability” to stop exhibitors from defying the moratorium.