<div>JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy, who is also a film producer, said that the Kannada film industry should unite to “restrict” the release of non-Kannada films in the state.<br /><br />Addressing the media here on Monday, Kumaraswamy said that the “nexus” between multiplexes and other language filmmakers should be broken. <br /><br />Stating that he would write to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard, he sought a comprehensive policy to resolve the issue. He said the onslaught of other language films in Karnataka had taken a toll on Kannada film producers, distributors and exhibitors. <br /><br />He said that 150 films each in Telugu and Tamil are released annually. <br /><br />In addition to these, Malayalam, Hindi and English films are also released simultaneously, making it difficult for 120-odd Kannada films to survive. <br /><br />While the rents in theatres were high, multiplexes had completely sidelined Kannada films. Kumaraswamy said that earlier there was a restriction on the number of non-Kannada films that could be released in the state. But now, there was no such restriction.<br /><br />“This is our land and water. But we have become third-rate citizens, the others have emerged as first-class citizens. It is imperative to save our language and our films,” he said.<br /><br />Noting that he had no vested interest in raising the issue, Kumaraswamy, referring to his son’s film Jaguar (which he has produced), said screening of films that are making a good earning should not be discontinued after a week’s time. <br /><br />He said that the Kannada film industry had been hit because of the emergence of reality shows. <br /><br />Making an indirect reference to actor Sudeep, he said since big stars were booked for reality shows like ‘Big Boss,’ producers were finding it difficult to get their call sheets.</div>
<div>JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy, who is also a film producer, said that the Kannada film industry should unite to “restrict” the release of non-Kannada films in the state.<br /><br />Addressing the media here on Monday, Kumaraswamy said that the “nexus” between multiplexes and other language filmmakers should be broken. <br /><br />Stating that he would write to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard, he sought a comprehensive policy to resolve the issue. He said the onslaught of other language films in Karnataka had taken a toll on Kannada film producers, distributors and exhibitors. <br /><br />He said that 150 films each in Telugu and Tamil are released annually. <br /><br />In addition to these, Malayalam, Hindi and English films are also released simultaneously, making it difficult for 120-odd Kannada films to survive. <br /><br />While the rents in theatres were high, multiplexes had completely sidelined Kannada films. Kumaraswamy said that earlier there was a restriction on the number of non-Kannada films that could be released in the state. But now, there was no such restriction.<br /><br />“This is our land and water. But we have become third-rate citizens, the others have emerged as first-class citizens. It is imperative to save our language and our films,” he said.<br /><br />Noting that he had no vested interest in raising the issue, Kumaraswamy, referring to his son’s film Jaguar (which he has produced), said screening of films that are making a good earning should not be discontinued after a week’s time. <br /><br />He said that the Kannada film industry had been hit because of the emergence of reality shows. <br /><br />Making an indirect reference to actor Sudeep, he said since big stars were booked for reality shows like ‘Big Boss,’ producers were finding it difficult to get their call sheets.</div>
