Censor board's quality ideas rankle Sandalwood

BENGALURU: A group of suggestions from the regional Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to the state government on improving the quality of Kannada movies has left many in the industry seething.
Suggestions like not to give subsidy to movies that haven't been released and also to people, who have already availed it once, have ruffled many a feather.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) president Thomas D'Souza said, "As per rules, there's a committee to select films for subsidy. CBFC has no business to suggest any measure as the committee is doing a good job. "
M Nagendra Swamy, CBFC regional officer, said the board has sought for enhancing the subsidy from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.
"But there's a condition: the subsidy should be given to Kannada movies which are released in at least 10 theatres in four major centres like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi."
Dismissing complaints of interference, Swamy claimed that as a censor certification officer, he too has a role in ensuring quality in Kannada movies. "Last year, we certified a record 202 films. Some of them were made in just three days and the producers wanted them to be certified by December 2014 for subsidy," he said.
Karnataka Chalanachithra Academy chairman Rajendrasingh Babu said the CBFC has every right to give suggestions. "Ultimately, it is the government which takes the decision," he added.