Kannada cine stars descend on road against dubbing

The Kannada film industry observed a day-long bandh on Monday against attempts to allow dubbing of other language films into Kannada.

Cine icons led by activist Vatal Nagaraj and Rajkumar Fans Association president Sa Ra Govindu held a protest rally and an open meeting in the City on Monday. The rally was led by Shivaraj Kumar on behalf of Kannada cine artistes.

The rally, which began from the Mysore Bank Circle, proceeded through K G Road and Kalidasa Circle. At the Central College grounds, they held an open meeting. Thousands of fans attended the meet.

The event led to traffic chaos and police had a tough time managing the crowd.
An emotional Shivaraj Kumar said it was only a few vested interests trying to allow dubbing, which has remained banned for the past five decades. He said dubbing was detrimental to interests of Kannada artistes. He pledged to fight dubbing till his last breath.

Nagaraj said the ban on dubbing was introduced to protect Kannada from an onslaught of cinema in other languages.

Sa Ra Govindu said it was a tragedy that the Karnataka State Film Chamber of Commerce was not supporting the bandh. “In protest, I resigned from the membership of the chamber before taking part in the protest,” he said.

Prominent music director Hamsalekha said efforts must be made to assume an anti-remake, anti-dubbing stance as part of the cultural policy, being drafted by a committee headed by Baraguru Ramchandrappa.

Ashok, leader of the Film Industry Labour Union, said there were more than 5,000 labourers dependent on cinema and the small screen. Even a nominal drop in their income would jeopardise their lives. He said all neighbouring states have been protective of their cultures. “They expect us to take out all fences and allow them a field day. There is a need to form a strong regional party in the State and that is the only way out,” he said.

Prominent Kannada actors and State ministers M H Ambareesh and Umashree were conspicuous by their absence. Actors Sudeep and Darshan, however, paid a token visit to the Central College grounds.

The rally threw traffic on the Kempegowda Road, Race Course Road, K R Circle and Gandhinagar out of gear.