Ugh, these posters!

Ugh, these posters!
Vijay Times

EVER Y Thursday night, the City’s walls and hoardings are defaced with a fresh set of film posters, thanks to the intense competition prevailing in the film industry .

Producers and distributors, who are eager to see their movies do well in the box office, ensure that enough posters are put up everywhere to give their films an edge over the rest.

ACT ON DESPITE BAN

Though the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) has imposed restrictions on putting up such material on hoardings in public places, especially those in hospitals, these haven’t stopped those who indulge in the act from doing so.

"Hoardings set up within the premises of the hospital are for creating an awareness on issues pertaining to health. However , in some places, these are also not spared by those who paste film posters," said Rajashekar , a resident of K P Agrahara.

ASAMPLE OF MISUSE

"For instance, a hoarding in the premises of the Leprosy Hospital on Magadi Road has a film poster on it. The hoarding, which was originally set up to create an awareness on AIDS, continues to be misused though it is situated in a prime location. For the last three months, the authorities concerned have not taken any action against the law-breakers. I don’t know how many such hoardings meant to carry public interest advertisements are being misused in the City ," he added.

I DO MY JOB

T alking to BVT , K umar , a person who pastes posters, said, "I am given 50 film posters by a theatre owner , who pays me Rs 75 for putting them up. A helper who works with me gets Rs 50. W e paste posters on Thursday nights every week." "If I’m caught red-handed by BCC employees or the police, they warn me and take any money that I have at that point of time. Else, they enquire about the theatre for which I work and go there. They then take Rs 100 or 200 from the theatre owner and sometimes watch movies for free," says K umar , a person who pastes posters Sharadamma, a regular commuter , said, "Som etimes, obscene posters are displayed and it makes commuters like us feel embarrassed. Every week, new posters are pasted on old ones. The sad part is that they don’t even spare trees."

YET TO GET A PLACE

Speaking to BVT , Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association working president K V Chandrashekar said, "Those pasting posters or setting up hoardings must take permission from the BCC before doing so . The BCC has not assigned a particular place for displaying such posters. However , posters are to be put up in the corners of walls that are of no use." "If a person is caught while pasting posters, BCC officials warn them and sometimes impose a sum as penalty . If the owner of a private property lodges a complaint against the theatre owner , a case is booked," he informed.

"W e have therefore requested the BCC to specify certain places in all the areas where posters can be displayed. But, they have not yet taken a decision on the issue and we are waiting for their permission. This will help prevent such complaints," the president said.

"The film industry should understand and help us protect the City from being defaced," he added.

"Despite a drive by our officials to remove such publicity materials and impose penalties on those concerned, it is difficult to control this problem as the posters don’t carry the printer’s or the distributor’s name. This makes it difficult to punish the law-breakers," says Dr P S Thandavamurthy , BCC Chief Health Officer .