Almost-free screening for Kannada art films

BANGALORE: On eve of the proposed film industry meeting with deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, exhibitors tried to buy peace with Kannada producers on Sunday with a never-before offer: they will give theatres state-wide "almost-free" for the screening of Kannada art films.
After an executive-committee meeting of the Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Federation (KFEF), chairman R.P.Odugoudar told The Times of India: "We are expressing our support to Kannada films through this gesture. All these days, art films did not even get a chance to be screened, because we looked at it from a commercial angle. But now, we will give our theatres almost free and try to create a space for this kind of cinema in our state."
The KFEF held discussions with veteran filmmaker T.S. Ranga to work out modalities of which films should be released, where and when. "Ranga also wants to hold discussions with others film-makers like Girish Kasaravalli. Once it is through, we will go ahead," Odugoudar added.
The ambit of the ‘art film’ genre will not only include films like Krourya that never saw light, but also semi-art movies like Shivrajkumar-starrer Chigurida Kanasu or the Prema-starrer Singarevva which were taken off from theatres within the first few weeks. Exhibitors admitted that making such films succeed commercially will be rather difficult.
"But we will have to create a taste for such cinema, so we might reserve just morning shows for it or give one theatre in a city exclusively for them. That is also being worked out," Odugoudar said.
Kannada producers have welcomed the move, but added a rider. "It is indeed a good thing if they do it. But why don’t they support all Kannada movies and ensure that this industry comes on a par with the other South Indian languages," Producers’ Association president Basant Kumar Patil asked.
The producers are still trying to convince the exhibitors to continue with the seven-week moratorium against other language movies. "We cannot compel them and we know the Supreme Court has stayed the scheme. But we will request them to consider continuing it as a support to Kannada filmdom," Patil added.
Odugoudar, however, reiterated that exhibitors had given time only till Monday. "After Tuesday, we will go ahead with
new releases as and when the prints and theatres are readied," he maintained.
His only concession is: "If any Kannada film-maker wants any particular theatre to screen his film, he just has to ask. We will give it to them on priority."