Sathyu to lead K'taka charge

Apart from “Ijjodu”, the other films from Karnataka in the feature section of the Indian Panorama at the festival to be held in Goa from November 23 are “Beli Matthu Hola” by P R Ramadasa Naidu, “Shankara Punyokoti” by G Murthy, and Tulu film “Gaggara” by Shivadhwaj Shetty.

The Panorama list has been announced after the Kerala High Court vacated a stay on the announcement of the Panorama results, which it had put as an interim order earlier on the basis of a writ petition by director Renjith alleging step-motherly treatment towards Malayalam film industry in the selection process.

The awards got into a controversy after the media reported that jury chairman Muzaffar Ali and member Bobby Bedi had been absented for substantial periods during the selection process. Another controversy arose when another jury member, Gautaman Bhaskaran, allegedly released the whole feature film selection list on a website in contravention of jury rules.

The Panorama has 26 films, including five from a  “mainstream quota” out of a pre-selected shortlist sent by the Film Federation of India.