Multiplexes should give equal prominence to Kannada

Demand to emulate TN model to screen films

Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman S V Rajendra Singh Babu on Tuesday demanded the multiplexes in the State to give equal prominence to the screening of Kannada films.

Participating in a session on ‘Kannada filmdom’ on the concluding day of four-day 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelan here, Babu, also a popular Sandalwood director, gave a call to the multiplex exhibitors to emulate the model Tamil Nadu, by fixing uniform ticket fare of Rs 120, and reserve at least 150 days in a year for the screening of Kannada movies.

Stating that the exhibitors alone could not help promote the regional language movies, Babu appealed to the audience and also the media to oppose songs with risque lyrics like ‘appa loosa... amma loosa..’. “If such lyrics are condemned and opposed, film makers will obviously think of quality productions.”

Taking a dig at those involved in film making, especially directors, producers and actors, Babu advised them to develop a reading habit rather than watching films from other languages, especially Tamil movies, for inspiration. 

Elaborating exclusively on lyrics, another noted film director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar vented his ire against a section of litterateurs who were looking down upon the filmdom. It is time, both litterateurs and the industry stakeholders work together with mutual respect. 

Nagathihalli also had a word of caution for the writers who insist on carbon copy of their work on screen too. There is always a difference between literature and cinema. However, film makers should not resort to distorting facts, he said. 

He said that it was unfortunate that the quality of novels in Kannada had deteriorated over the years.  

Another director T S Nagabharana delved on the ‘remake and dubbing’ trend. “Ironically, the hero decides the content of the movie, while the director and producer have been pushed to the backseat. It is due to the growing remake culture, Sandalwood is witnessing stunted growth, reducing the market further,” he added. 

Quoting statistics, Nagabharana said that from the year 2009 to 2012, on an average, two to three remake films have succeeded at the box office every year. 

Film makers should give serious thought towards original content, and not remakes, he said.

In an interaction that followed later, Manjunath Addhe bemoaned about the village dialects becoming the butt of jokes on screen. 

“Film makers are churning out films out with meaningless songs, eyeing awards,” he said.