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Tag: Karnataka film

  • Karnataka film body imposes restrictions on newspaper ad space

    BANGALORE: Not satisfied with the loss of face and prestige resulting from the failure of the moratorium imposed on non-Kannada films in Karnataka, Kannada film industry is slapped with a new regulation – restrictive advertisement space for films promotions in Karnataka, starting 18 February.
     
     
    As per the new decision, announced by Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) VP Sa Ra Govindu, Kannada film producers can use a maximum of half page of ad space during the release of films and on completion of 50 and 100 days, while non-Kannada producers can issue a three column ad during the release of a new film, and during other occasions Kannada film ads will have to be less than half a page while those of non-Kannada films less than two columns. Films of producers not complying with this dictum face a screening ban across the state.
     
     
    KFCC justifies its latest diktat by saying that this measure will end the disparity between producers who are well off and can spend huge amounts on ad space and producers who have financial constraints and can afford to place only smaller ads or no ads at all.

    In an earlier decision by KFCC, ban was imposed on non-Kannada films, initially of twelve weeks, which was later curtailed to seven weeks and then further reduced to three weeks and ultimately fizzled out, after threats from the film industry across India.

     
     
    KFCC claims that it has the backing of all the three bodies -producers, exhibitors and distributors, however how much say the non-Kannada film segment, which generally has deeper pockets than the Kannada film segment has in this matter is a debatable point.

  • Karnataka film exhibitors to promote Kannada films

    Karnataka film exhibitors to promote Kannada films

    BANGALORE: The Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association (KFEF) has announced its plans to promote Kannada films. “We’ve (the KFEF) unanimously decided to promote Kannada language during a meeting today, in line with my statement yesterday that we will take steps on our own for promoting Kannada language,” said KFEF chairman and president R P Odogoudar to Indiantelevision.com.

    “We have decided to release award winning Kannada films, art films, non-commercial films that have not hit the silver screen. We’ve decided to screen them to fulfill our aim of developing of Kannada films. We’ve said that we will come one step forward, all theater owners will participate, and on a non- commercial basis,” Odogoudar said.

    When queried details of the organisation’s plans, Odogoudar said, “We’ve to work out the details, let us find out the number of such films, and how we would screen them. This would be a continuous process.”

    Meanwhile, following the supreme court’s stay on the highly controversial seven week moratorium on non-Kannada films in the state on a petition filed by Gemini Films, the planned meeting of the deputy chief minister Siddharmaiah and the three involved groups has been postponed.

    Advocate general B T Parthasarathy has been quoted in media reports as saying that the government will file an application to vacate the stay. A decision will be taken once the copy of the SC order was received from the government, he said.

    The exhibitors are elated with these developments and plans are on to release all the new non-Kannada films on the 19th onwards. The films have not been released immediately after the SC stay to honor CM Dharam Singh’s request that releases be defrayed until the now canceled Monday meet.

    Kannada filmdom under the aegis of The Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) plans to study the order before taking further steps.

    Actor-politician mediator Ambarish who had been roped in to help solve the impasse between the producer-director fraternity and exhibitors and distributors severely criticized the attack on media persons and theaters screening non-Kannada films. Ambarish, speaking during a press meet, said that none of the three effected parties- the producer-director body, the distributors and the exhibitors were willing to look beyond their own problems. He has now decided to wash his hands off the affair saying that only talks between the three parties could help solve the issue.

  • Karnataka Cinema Theater Owners Assn dissolved

    Karnataka Cinema Theater Owners Assn dissolved

    BANGALORE: The Karnataka film crisis episode has taken a new twist with MLA and son of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy, openly disowning the Karnataka Cinema Theater Owners Association (KCTOA) and saying that KCTOA has no right to use his name while issuing statements.

    As reported by Indiantelevision.com on 31 August, Kumaraswamy had chaired a meeting of the KCTOA where he was projected as the president of the organisation. On being questioned about the previous president Arun Kumar, the press was informed that he had resigned to make way for HD Kumaraswamy.

    Now Kumaraswamy has denied that he was president of the KCTOA or that he had any say in the decision making of that body. He is quoted in the media reports as saying, “Theater owners asked me to lead them. So far, I have given my consent. But KCTOA is already issuing an unsigned statement carrying my name. The decision to ban Babu’s film was taken by exhibitors and not his,” he said as per media reports, distancing himself from the KCTOA.”

    As reported earlier, an unsigned press release attributed to minister HD Kumaraswamy had declared that that any film with which producer and director S V Rajendra Singh Babu is directly or indirectly associated would not be displayed in any theatre in Karnataka for the next five years starting 8 September, 2004 till 8 September, 2009.KCTOA secretary KV Dhananjay said that the KCTOA stood dissolved following Kumaraswamy’s statements and hence ban on Rajendra Singh Babu’s films called for by the KCTOA was automatically withdrawn. The Gokak type agitation that the KFPA had threatened has now been put on hold too.

    The government has yet to act on information & broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy’s appeal to lift the seven-week ban on non-Kannada Films. The Government-formed Pandey committee is to meet later today to discuss the ills of the Kannada industry.

    Meanwhile, ex-minister and Congress MLA DK Shivakumar has indicated his support of the Karnataka Film Producers Association (KFPA) demands by attending a meeting called by the Kannada film fraternity yesterday. DK Shivakumar’s antagonism towards the former PM HD Deve Gowda and his sons is reportedly well known, and during his speech he has reportedly cautioned the film fraternity against involving politicians.