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Tag: S. Ramesh

  • Kannada film producers’ fraternity takes on filmdom embargo

    Kannada film producers’ fraternity takes on filmdom embargo

    BANGALORE: Undeterred by the trade barriers thrust on it by the Indian film industry — mainly represented by the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and some doyens from the Bollywood industry — the Kannada film producers fraternity has decided to take on cudgels and go ahead on its own, at least until the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) presidential elections which is to be held in Bangalore on 25 September.

    Reportedly refusing to be cowed down by the film industry across India, most of the Karnataka Film Producers Association members have either accepted the decision saying that the Kannada film industry will improve if isolated from the rest of their brethren in India or have taken a threatening stance saying that Telugu and Hindu film industries will suffer if they tried the Kannnadigas’ tolerance, threatening retaliation along the same lines.

    The artistes and technicians who are involved with films across states are worried about their future and hope that the crisis would be solved soon.

    KFPA president Basant Kumar Patil (he is also one of the KFCC presidential candidates), having been pushed onto the back-foot by the recent developments, reportedly condemned the embargos announced under the aegis of the South Indian Film Chambers of Commerce saying the Kannada film industry could sustain itself without any support from others. He asked the non-Kannada film industry to take into account the fact that the KFPA is fighting for its survival in the state. He stated that the non-Kannada film industry could adjust their losses elsewhere since they have worldwide releases while Kannada films were limited to the state only. Patil added that the seven-week moratorium on non-Kannada films in the state would stay.

    The only other remaining candidate of the post of the president of KFCC, H D Ganagaraju has the support of the out-going president of the KFCC, S. Ramesh and actress Jayamala, Sa Ra Govind among others. Both candidates have released their election manifesto and have assured a quick solution to the problems faced by the Kannada film industry.

  • 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.

  • Karnataka film crisis: Non-Kannada film exhibitors bear the brunt

    Karnataka film crisis: Non-Kannada film exhibitors bear the brunt

    BANGALORE: The on-going crisis in the Kannada film industry, following the Karnataka Film Producers Association’s (KFPA) decision to block all non-Kannada films has put film exhibitors in Karnataka, especially those who rely on non-Kannada films, in a tough spot.

    A section of the film exhibitors who met State chief minister to seek support had to return empty handed with CM only remarking that he’d look into the matter. 

    According to reports, the Kannada Rakshana Vedike and Sasmara Sena Vedike pelted stones, damaged equipment and tables, a TV set in the offices of The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, damaged the front portion of the Movieland theater. They then attacked the offices of Sandesh Enterprises a film production and distribution office of Pal and Basha, protesting against the screening of non-Kannada films in the State. The theatre was screening Telugu film Ghashana.

    As reported earlier, KFPA has requested all non-Kannada film distributors to refrain from releasing non-Kannada films starting 13 August following the agitation by film producers and directors who 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 theatres in Karnataka for at least 12 weeks a year, abolition of show tax and turnover tax on exhibition of Kannada films, a seven to 12-day delay in release of non-Kannada films from the day on which they are first screened in other states and a single-window-system for permission for filming.

    A rally had been called by the KFPA and the Karnataka Film Directors Association (KFDA) last week in which prominent personalities from the Kannada Film Industry participated. Release of non-Kannada films such as Vasool Raja MBBS (Tamil), Andaroo Dongale Dorikithe (Telugu) and the Kyon Ho Gaya Na (Hindi) in the State were effected.

    Today’s stalemate follows the fate of yesterday’s meeting held at the residence of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) president S Ramesh, which had met to decide to form a 27-member committee including exhibitors, producers and distributors, failed to yield results. Some exhibitors and distributors met Parvatamma Rajkumar, wife of Karnataka film icon Rajkumar, on Monday evening to seek her approval for release of non-Kannada films this Friday but failed to get a positive response as per media reports that add that the exhibitors and distributors could expect some support from minister and producer HD Kumaraswamy.

    Meanwhile, a meeting has been called tomorrow between exhibitors and theater owners to discuss the issue. “We really don’t expect the theatre owners exhibiting Kannada films to come tomorrow. They don’t stand to loose anything, it is only the theatres that exhibit only non-Kannada films that will be affected by the delay in release of non-Kannada films. Earlier we had not responded to their protest call against show tax, why should they support us now?” asks a theater owner.

    As many as 95 per cent of the theatres in Karnataka screen either Kannada films or non-Kannada films. Only 5 per cent theaters show both Kannada and non-Kannada films. A number of owners of theaters, which exhibit non-Kannada films, are considering shutting shop permanently.