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Tag: Vasool Raja

  • 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.

  • 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.