Big non-Kannada films coming

3-WEEK MORATORIUM IGNORED
Big non-Kannada films coming
Deccan Herald

Exhibitors in Bangalore are planning to bombard the city theatres with a series of new, big-budget, non-Kannada movies from this Friday even as the State Government on Tuesday turned down the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce’s (KFCC) plea to call a meeting of all sectors of the industry to end the crisis, reports DHNS, Bangalore.

The first to hit the screen this week — against the informal three-week moratorium imposed by Kannada filmdom — will be George Clooney, Brad Pitt-starrer Ocean’s 12 (English) and two-weeks-old Hindi film, Hulchul, starring Kareena Kapoor. While the former is being released simultaneously across the globe, the latter is two-week old.

Both films are expected to be screened in the recently-inaugurated PVR Multiplex this Friday, non-Kannada film exhibitors told Deccan Herald.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Siddharamaiah is learnt to have washed his hands off the issue and turned down KFCC’s request to call for a meeting. Mr Siddharamaiah has, inturn, directed both KFCC and the producers to resolve the issue on their own. KFCC members led by its President H D Gangaraj met Mr Siddaramaiah at his residence on Tuesday. Chief Minister N Dharam Singh had assured the producers, who were up in arms against defying the moratorium, to call a meeting of the industry shortly to resolve the crisis.

No talks
Besides, KFCC too has decided not to mediate on the issue of moratorium. “We will not discuss anything about the moratorium as it amounts to the contempt of court. We are ready to hold discussions only with respect to print restrictions”, Mr Gangaraj said.

When contacted, Kannada Film Producers’ Association President Basant Kumar Patil said that KFCC has taken the responsibility to implement the moratorium by stopping screening of new releases. “If it fails in its attempt, we will take a suitable decision,” he warned.

In another development, a delegation of Telugu film industry led by actor Chiranjeevi is likely to meet Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar at his residence in Bangalore, in a bid to resolve the issue of moratorium. However, the date of the meeting is not yet finalised, sources said.