'Meaningful cinema needed in Kannada'

Speaking at the International Film Festival organised by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy on Monday, he said "There was a time, when we could bank on late veteran actors like Rajkumar and Vishuvardhan by making hero-oriented films, but now we do not have such artistes. Hence, the industry must focus on making meaningful and good cinema that appeals to everyone."

Internationally acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker who recently won the national award for his film 'Kutty Srank' Shaji N Karun defined Karnataka as the “cultural mind of South India.” "Cinema in India determines the mind of every human being that bonds people across the country," he said.

Joy Yen, the Cultural Counsellor of Taiwan Embassy said she was happy to be a part of the cultural exchange and glad to encourage collaboration with the Indian film industry.

The festival opened with a Taiwanese film 'I Can't Live Without You' which won the Golden Peacock at the International Film Festival of India in Goa in 2009. For the first time ever, digital format has been introduced in the festival which will showcase 85 films from all over the world which will be screened not only in Bangalore, but also in Bidar, Dharwad, Mangalore and Shimoga. The festival is jointly organised by the Suchitra Film Society in collaboration with Federation of Film Societies of India.