| According to media reports, the pro-Kannada film lobby,
which had been demanding a twelve-week delay and a maximum of for
prints, has agreed to soften its stand. The sub-committee also plans
to intimate other film chambers in other states and the South India
Film Chamber of Commerce to co-operate in implementing the six print
norm.
Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) president S Ramesh is
quoted in media reports as saying, "This decision will come
into effect Tuesday and violators will be dealt with strictly, including
a permanent ban in Karnataka."
Regarding the reversal of reduction of entertainment tax for non-Kannada
films from 70 per cent to 40 per cent, the panel has assured that
a decision can be expected from the government within 15 days. The
panel in the meantime plans to study the entertainment tax pattern
of other states.
"The exhibitors and distributors of non-Kannada films will
receive a body blow if the decision of the panel is implemented
by the government. Many theaters will be forced to close down if
we are not allowed to exhibit the movie simultaneously with other
parts in the country.
Today, movies are being launched worldwide on the same day and
here in Karnataka we are going a step backward. Generally pirated
CDs and DVDs of a movie are available after the first day itself.
So the Kannada film fraternity, instead of improving the quality
of their films are indirectly encouraging piracy of non-Kannada
film," said one Bangalore-based theater owner.
"Many distributors have made payments in advance for booking
non-Kannada movies. Their returns for the booking of films will
go for a toss. More ever, Hindi is a national language, can anyone,
even a state government delay or ban a national language film in
this way? In any case the six print limit is okay for Hindi or English
films, but as many as 20 prints are released of Telugu and Tamil
films, and the price paid for these films by the distributors sometime
runs to crores of rupees!" he added.
Industry sources are also unsure about the fate of various multiplexes,
which are coming up in and around Bangalore, in today's changed
scenario.
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