Host dilemma
Vision Cinema on K Hanumanthaiah Road was abuzz with activity on the first day of the week-long Bangalore International Film Festival.
An entire wall of the premises was reserved for the display of posters of films that are being screened at the festival but conspicuous by their absence were the posters of three Kannada films -- Ramadas Naidu’s ‘Moggina Jade’, Lingadevaru’s ‘Kaada Beladingalu’ and Siddalingaiah’s ‘Daatu’. These Kannada films, screened under the Chitrabharathi section of the festival remained shy of discerning film buffs till late evening. Director Lingadevaru, who arrived late at the venue was perplexed and hurt that there was hardly any mention of the films except on the itinerary.
He immediately brought it to the notice of the organisers and wondered why such a treatment was being meted out to films made in the language of the host city? The organisers assured the director of setting things right by next morning.
However, things had not changed even by late afternoon when Lingadevaru could be seen hurrying inside the venue with a poster in hand, determined to do the job himself. Kannada now has to promote itself in the Cosmopolitan City that Bangalore has turned into!

 B S Srivani

All in a name
Shakespeare may argue “What’s in a name...”. But for the Bangalore police and especially the senior officials it is of utmost importance. The proof for this is any press note released by the department whenever there is any major breakthrough in case. The language is at its flowery best.... say, ‘Under the able guidance of the DCP, and under the able direction of the ACP, the inspector on getting a vital tip-off directed his police team which was led by the sub-inspector, which in turn busted a gang.... The police team comprised constables____, head constables_____ and assistant sub-inspectors...........’

So, on Saturday the Byappanahalli police too came out with a similar note when they busted a gang of kidnappers. It had the name of the alleged criminals, their activities, their past record and also the officers who traced the criminals. However the name of their hostage or his details remained missing! A journalist quipped,
“The typist has meticulously listed the police officials but left out the details of the hostage because of who the policemen are patting their back.”

Manjusainath

Penned revenge

Crime reporters have a common grouse that the police officials mislead them all the time. So one of them decided that revenge was called for. A police inspector narrated this incident where a scribe called to ask about a gang war in his police station limit.  He denied any such incident but was soon flooded with calls from other reporters about the same. He naturally wondered if he had remained unaware of the incident and therefore frantically set about to ascertain the facts. Finally, it turned out to be a ‘hoax call.’ “We were confused when we returned. It’s easy to nab criminals, but not such ‘criminal’ scribes.  If I figure out who planted the story, then...” the red faced official couldn’t stutter beyond it.

Jagadish Angadi

A bad joke

There is a joke doing rounds in the police department ever since the serial killer Kempamma alias Mallika was exposed. Whenever there are missing reports, policemen tell each other to check it with Mallika. “She may be know about it. If not, then we should make her know!!! At least we will get rid of the case.” Thank God this is just a joke...

 Rasheed Kappan