Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said the glorification of box office trends has become a threat to filmmakers in Sandalwood. The CM was talking at the inauguration of the 11th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes).

“Glorifying box office collection of Kannada movies, especially commercial movies, has created a situation similar to that of the farmers in the state. Without accuracy, the box office collection is glorified, which will create more trouble to filmmakers. I request to end this culture in Sandalwood, and highlight the relevance of the film’s content to the present day instead,” said H D Kumaraswamy.

Ace director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, chairman of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy requested Kumaraswamy to focus on establishing the ‘Janatha Chitramandira’, which will benefit both filmmakers and audiences in the state.

“Earlier there were less films and more theatres. Now, the films are more and theatres are less. It’s high time the government established ‘Janatha Chitramandira’ -- small theatres at bus terminals and other places, which will be accessible to the common people. We also request to set up a committee to rein in the skyrocketing rents of theatres in the state. Earlier, the rent was revised annually, now it is revised weekly. It is forcing the filmmakers to cough up more money after movies release,” Nagathihalli Chandrashekar stressed.

Promising to address all the issues faced by producers in the state, Kumaraswamy said: “Being a producer myself, I completely understand the situation of filmmakers in the state. First, I want the film fraternity to jointly come up with a proposal. Then I can look into the issue.”

Citing the success of the Kannada movie, ‘Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale, Kasargoodu,’ Kumaraswamy urged the fillmmakers to focus more on the content, for the theatres to voluntarily approach for the rights. “Beside commercialising the movie, the filmmakers should also focus on the content, which is the core aspect of a film. Then, we don’t need any promotion, it will automatically and effectively reach the audience,” he added.

Sandalwood’s versatile actor, Anant Nag, Bollywood filmmaker Rahul Rawail, S A Chinne Gowda, president, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and others were present at the event. The week-long event is scheduled to be held at the Orion Mall, where movie screenings and discussions with renowned film personalities and others will be held.