Association president K C N Chandrashekhar, who spoke on the occasion, said that Kannada film industry could be in serious trouble in the event of not formulating a clear policy on allowing screening of non-Kannada films in the State.
“The screening of Magadheera is only the beginning. If this continues, the entire Kannada film industry could be on the verge of extinction. While we produce films with a budget of Rs five crore, Telugu films are made with budgets exceeding Rs 50 crore. Add to this the superstardom of most Telugu or even Tamil filmstars and we are just not in a position to compete with neighbouring States. We will be wiped out,” he apprehended.
Chandrashekhar said that the government and the Chambers have been given a month’s time to redress the issue failing which an intense agitation will have to be called for.
A memorandum was later submitted to the president of Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce president, Jayamala. The Associaion has demanded that all non-Kannada films be screened in the State only after seven weeks of their release in their respective States and that film producers of other States and theatre/multiplex owners be made members of the film chambers.