BBMP plays ‘poster boy’

BBMP plays ‘poster boy’

November 12th, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Tags: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC)


Bengaluru, Nov. 11: Ugly posters defacing walls in the city could soon be a thing of the past as the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has requested Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which was threatening to take action against one of its producers for defacing public property, to allot it space in the city for displaying film posters for a fee. BBMP has been receptive to the idea and has begun the process of identifying suitable locations for them.
While the film industry thrives on publicity to draw audiences to the theatres and relies hugely on posters for this, walls in the city have been defaced for years in the process in defiance of the provisions of the Karnataka Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act 1981. BBMP recently filed a complaint against a producer for violating the law in question, prompting KFCC chairperson Jayamala to write to it in response suggesting that producers should be allotted around a 1,000 hoardings where they can display their posters and promote their films.
“We have requested BBMP to allot space in all wards for displaying the advertisements for a nominal fee. We have received a positive response from BBMP which has promised to provide the required hoardings,” Ms Jayamala said. BBMP joint commissioner (West) V.P. Ikkeri acknowledged that the KFCC had requested allotment of hoardings for film posters and said suitable locations will be identified for them with the help of revenue and engineering officials before allowing them to be erected. “Usually, such hoardings are displayed at the end of footpaths and at road corners, so that neither pedestrians nor vehicles are hampered,” he explained. The KFCC too has formed a panel of its members to identify suitable locations for the film hoardings. Mr Ikkeri said the advertisement fee will be worked out on an annual basis and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be entered into with the KFCC to cement the agreement on the hoardings, which will help keep the walls of both private and public properties free of posters in the city.
“Not only will this keep the city clean, but BBMP will also be able to earn revenue from the posters displayed,” he pointed out.