Puttanna movie hall awaits BMP ticket for show

Puttanna movie hall awaits BMP ticket for show
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The issues surrounding renowned Kannada film maker late Puttanna Kanagal seem to have compounded the confusion prevailing in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) over renovation of a cinema named after him.

In May last year, before the Karnataka Film Industry Development Corporation (KFIDC) wound up, it handed over the Puttanna cinema located in BMP’s Jayanagar Shopping Complex to the BMP.

Even as the BMP is preparing to call expression of interest to renovate, operate and transfer (ROT) the cinema, there are many conflicting opinions on the methods adopted by the civic body.

The BMP in October had finalised a proposal to renovate the cinema and leased it to a private operator.

The proposal estimated at Rs 3.5 crore was called off at the last moment due to pressures.

Now the civic body is thinking in terms of R O T (renovate, operate and transfer), inviting private operators to invest in the renovation and take over the running of the cinema on a long lease.

However, industry sources said an investment of Rs 3.5 crore is not viable as the hall could only fetch a weekly rental of Rs 70,000.

Moreover, the private players would not cherish the idea of making the cinema available only for Kannada films.

Film star and MP Ambarish who along with veteran actor Vishnuvardhan were interested in reviving the cinema named after their mentor, felt that a joint venture is the only viable option.

Ambarish said: “It is not BMP’s domain to build cinemas and they do not have to spend crores of rupees. A joint venture on 60:40 profit sharing basis would be ideal.

“In Joint Ventures, the developer invests and the BMP would get profits without spending. But emotional terms should not be imposed on the developer.”

Mayor Mumtaz Begum told this website’s newspaper she would visit the place and take a decision. “I am aware of the issue and I will hold discussions with all concerned. I will see that the cinema is renovated,” she said.