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Tag: KP Pandey

  • State panel okays delayed release of non-Kannada films

    State panel okays delayed release of non-Kannada films

    BANGALORE: The panel headed by Karnataka chief secretary KP Pandey has given in to the demands of the Karnataka Film Producers Association (KFPA) and the Karnataka Film Directors Association (KFDA) on non-Kannada Films’ release in Karnataka.

    According to the agreement, non-Kannada films will be released in the state only after seven weeks from the date of release in their own states and that only six prints of each film would be permitted for the state. The decision has come into effect since Tuesday, 24 August.

    According to media reports, the pro-Kannada film lobby, which had been demanding a twelve-week delay and a maximum of for prints, has agreed to soften its stand. The sub-committee also plans to intimate other film chambers in other states and the South India Film Chamber of Commerce to co-operate in implementing the six print norm.
    Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) president S Ramesh is quoted in media reports as saying, “This decision will come into effect Tuesday and violators will be dealt with strictly, including a permanent ban in Karnataka.”

    Regarding the reversal of reduction of entertainment tax for non-Kannada films from 70 per cent to 40 per cent, the panel has assured that a decision can be expected from the government within 15 days. The panel in the meantime plans to study the entertainment tax pattern of other states.

    “The exhibitors and distributors of non-Kannada films will receive a body blow if the decision of the panel is implemented by the government. Many theaters will be forced to close down if we are not allowed to exhibit the movie simultaneously with other parts in the country.

    Today, movies are being launched worldwide on the same day and here in Karnataka we are going a step backward. Generally pirated CDs and DVDs of a movie are available after the first day itself. So the Kannada film fraternity, instead of improving the quality of their films are indirectly encouraging piracy of non-Kannada film,” said one Bangalore-based theater owner.

    “Many distributors have made payments in advance for booking non-Kannada movies. Their returns for the booking of films will go for a toss. More ever, Hindi is a national language, can anyone, even a state government delay or ban a national language film in this way? In any case the six print limit is okay for Hindi or English films, but as many as 20 prints are released of Telugu and Tamil films, and the price paid for these films by the distributors sometime runs to crores of rupees!” he added.

    Industry sources are also unsure about the fate of various multiplexes, which are coming up in and around Bangalore, in today’s changed scenario.

  • Non-Kannada film releases in Karnataka to be withheld till 18 August

    Non-Kannada film releases in Karnataka to be withheld till 18 August

    BANGALORE: The Karnataka Film Producers Association (KFPA) has requested all non-Kannada film distributors to refrain from releasing non-Kannada films starting 13 August. 

    As per industry sources, all new releases would be withheld till 18 August.

    The agitating film producers and directors had been demanding an increase in the present entertainment tax levied on non-Kannada films. The Kannada film fraternity has also been demanding assurance that all Kannada films be shown in all theaters in Karnataka for at least 12 weeks a year, abolition of show tax and turnover tax on exhibition of Kannada films and a single-window-system for permission for filming.

    The KFPA and the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) have set up a ten member-committee headed by producer B M Harish to monitor the screening of non-Kannada films in the State. The committee will ensure that: (1) Non-Kannada films are screened in the State only after they are exhibited for at least 12 weeks in their respective states (2) All Kannada films are compulsorily screened for 12 weeks (3) Similar committees are formed throughout the State.

    Distributors of non-Kannada films have officially announced that they will comply with the KFPA decision. Theater owners screening non-Kannada films anticipate violence in theaters, as per media reports.

    With the KFPA’s decision to block all non-Kannada films coming into effect on 13 August, the release of films like Vasool Raja MBBS (Tamil), Andaroo Dongale Dorikithe (Telugu) and the Kyon Ho Gaya Na (Hindi) in the State will be affected.

    It may be recalled that during a meeting after Monday’s rally called by KFPA and KFDA, deputy CM Siddaramaiah had agreed to constitute a panel to look into the problems of the Kannada film industry. The committee to be headed by chief secretary KP Pandey comprises veteran film producer Parvathamma Raj Kumar, actor-producer-director Ravichandran, KFDA president SV Rajendra Singh Babu and film director Joe Simon.

    The producers and directors expect preferential treatment from the theater owners and exhibitors. Kannada films are generally small budget films and hence can’t compete with Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. In 1996, the State government had forced a trade agreement between theater owners and producers to screen non-Kannada films only after seven weeks of release elsewhere. The agreement had to be abandoned, because, exhibitors and theater owners threatened to approach the court.

    Some of the film personalities who chose to boycott the rally term the demands by the producers and directors as illogical asking how long the Kannada industry expected protection from the government. According to them, the industry must bring out quality films and not the mediocre films, which are the order of the day today.

    Meanwhile, KFPA has postponed its meeting to initiate action against personalities who’d not participated in the rally to 16 August due to lack of adequate turnout, says reports.

    “Banagalore is a cosmopolitan city. There are people from all over the country here. Not all are interested in Kannada movies; many want to watch Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and English films. Even if I want to watch a Kannada movie, I don’t, because they lack quality and are poorly made,” says youngster Raja Gowda, a Kannadiga movie buff as he came out of a theatre watching the evening show of the last week release Mujhse Shaadi Karoge.