Tara pleads to save Sandalwood, Jayamala promises help
The promised, Janata Theatres and Film City were yet to become a reality at a time when the industry has graduated from analog to digital mode.
Bengaluru: For the first time in the recent past, the Legislative Council witnessed a healthy debate on the plethora of problems dogging the Kannada film industry. Members cutting across party lines unanimously urged the state government to find a long lasting solution to the problems of the industry. Actor turned MLC Tara Anuradha highlighted problems of the industry threadbare including the challenges posed by advanced technology in recent years and wanted the government to come to the rescue of the industry which has a turnover of around Rs 500 crore. Another actor turned politician and Minister for Women and Children Jayamala promised the House that she would bring this to the notice of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is also a noted producer and movie distributor.
Ms Jayamala noted that though the Kannada film policy was implemented a few years ago, it was yet to address several concerns expressed by those attached to film industry. However, the coalition government was committed to infuse new life into the 80 year old film industry, she said. Ms Tara said the film industry is facing several problems in spite of producing around 200 films annually. The promised, Janata Theatres and Film City were yet to become a reality at a time when the industry has graduated from analog to digital mode.
Though over 200 films were made, the success rate was only around 5 per cent.
The problems being faced by the film industry include digital distribution chains, increasing theatre rent structure, absence of single window system for shooting, which was in vogue in neighbouring states, the tax burden on producers, impact of GST and the exorbitant ticket rate of multiplexes. These problems had not been considered seriously by the government, she added. She also noted that Film City, a long pending demand of the Kannada film industry, is yet to be realized. The previous Congress government had announced its plan of developing a Film City in Mysuru but the incumbent government is planning to shift the project to Ramanagara.
“I want to know from the government abouts its promise to open Janata Theatres across the state to screen low-budget Kannada films. It will be good if the government reserves the closed Mysore Lamps factory and Minerva Mill premises, for the sake of Kannada films and also for creating shooting floors". Responding to Ms Tara, Ms Jayamala and Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge said the government's efforts to cap the ticket prices at multiplexes had been challenged by Multiplex Association of India in the Supreme Court. Despite this, there was a cap on ticket prices, they noted.