THEATRE PROBLEMS PERSIST
Big Films On The Way

Report by - CNB               Photos -K.M. Veeresh     Date -25rd January 2007  Time - 11.00 AM

Securing good theatres for quality films has still becomea a big problem now. "Poojary' which is slated for release is yet to get a theatre till Thursday morning and efforts are still being made to get a good theatre for the film. Theatre crunch for the Kannada films is not a new phenomenon and the heat is more in Bangalore.
The next few weeks will see a number of big films that are getting released. Dr. Vishnuvardhan starrer "Ekadhantha', Darshan starrer "Bhoopathy', Upendra starrer "Parodi' are all ready for release along with many medium budget films. To get theatres for all these films at a time when many of the Kannada films are running well is really a different task. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has to really deliberate over the issue.

The existing theatre problems had its fall out on Wednesday when Award winning film director T.S.Nagabharana and a couple of Kannada film enthusiasts staged a silent Dharna in front of Santhosh Theatre on Wednesday Morning. They were protesting against the abrupt removing of the film "Kallarali Hoovaagi' which was running well and shifting the film to the Sapna Theatre which has much less seating capacity. The Santhosh Theatre will screen Puneet Raj Kumar-Ramya starrer "Arrasu' from Thursday and the sources from the theatre said that the producer of 'Kallarali Hoovaagi' was advised even before screening of his film that the film can run only until "Arrasu' gets released.

Though the theatre management did not want to speak to the press, the sources said that they had agreed to release the film "Arrasu' on January 26. Five weeks ago, Madhu Bangarappa who wanted to release the film in Santhosh theatre was also advised about "Arrasu' being slotted for release.

Holding placards proclaiming that Kannada audience should not be denied opportunity to see good Kannada films, the protestors did not raise slogans. But they wore black cloths round the mouth to signify that it was a silent Dharna.

Director Nagabharana said that the protest was not against any one, but it was to highlight the way how good films were shunted out from good theatres even while they were earning a good share for the producers.

"I dont know anything about any oral agreement between the producer and the owners of Santhosh Theatre. I am only voicing my concern about the way this good film being shifted to another theatre even though it is collecting very well. It is attracting good number of audience, but yet the audience are being denied to watch this quality film in a good theatre. This should not happen in the future and I am only awakening the concern about injustice being done to films like "Kallarali Hoovaagi' which obtained critical acclaim and also good returns' said Nagabharana.

Madhu Bangarappa also felt unhappy that his film has been terminated and blamed the Karnataka film chamber of commerce for not solving his problem. "I refered the matter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and even enclosed the Daily collection report of my film. But the chamber has washed off its hands. Now, we have no other alternative than to shift our film to Sapna Theatre' said Madhu Bangarappa. He also said that he could have won a legal battle, but he is not interested to take the matter to courts or streets.