Bangalore: A section of Kannada film producers, who are planning to bring in the controversial ‘dubbing’ culture into Kannada film industry, faced a strong opposition from the Sandalwood fraternity, including top actors and pro-Kannada activists, who staged a big protest rally in Bangalore on Monday.
The rally started from the Mysore Bank Circle on Kempegowda Road and ended at Central College Grounds. The film industry, which was supported by Kannada organisations, also observed a bandh in protest against dubbing of other language movies and TV serials into Kannada.
After reports came out of some producers trying to release dubbed films in the state, both the Kannada film industry and Kannada activists came together to stop any such attempt, citing that it is against the interest of Kannada culture and language.
Director S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu, Mata and Yeddelu Manjunatha director Guruprasad and Jnanpith award winner Chandrashekar Kambar have supported dubbing. Kambar, however, later made it clear that he was against dubbing in Kannada films, but was in support of dubbing of science and knowledge-based programmes being aired on television.
Though stars and Kannada activists joined the rally at the Mysore Bank Circle, it started earlier in the day from Dr Rajkumar Smaraka Bhavan at Kanteerava Studios. The film fraternity was led by Shivarajkumar, his brother Puneeth Rajkumar, veteran actors Leelavathi, Ashok, Hamsalekha, and Sa.Ra. Govind, who resigned from KFCCI post to participate in the protest, Duniya Vijay, Sudeep, Darshan, Yash, Prem, Jaggesh, Shruthi, Jayamala, Malashree, Bhavana and others. Television artistes and unions also took part in the rally, which was witnessed by over 50,000 people.
Vatal Nagaraj of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha said, “Dubbing should not be allowed at any cost. The number of other language movies being released in state is more than the number of Kannada movies hitting the theatres. Let other states too release Kannada films. I challenge Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth and other language actors to speak in Kannada.”
