WE HAVE QUALITY 
No Money - Girish Kasaravalli

Report by - CNB       Photos - K.M. Veeresh         Date -19th  July  2005      Time - 11-00 PM

Kannada filmdom is shining like anything. The three national awards to ‘Haseena’, best regional award to ‘Beru’ and ‘Shanthi’ going to the books of Guinness records is a massive development of the recent times.

“We have the quality but money is not there” - says top director four times Swarna Kamal award winner Girish Kasaravalli (who missed the hat trick at the national level this time - according to strong rumors Girish Kasaravalli was purposely removed from the contest as some of the members did not want to equal him with Satyajith Ray who won national awards for three films in a row) at the meet the press at Press Club of Bangalore on Tuesday morning. For anyone saying there is no quality in Kannada the awards of this year are the answer.  Compared to other languages like Tamil and Telugu the national awards that have come for Kannada is more. In Malayalam there is thin line of difference between quality and commercial films. The similar atmosphere should come to Kannada also felt the stalwart director Girish Kasaravalli. According another strong rumor the NDTV tapped at the doors of Girish Kasaravalli at 4.30 am on the awards declaration day and took his interview saying that his directorial venture ‘Haseena’ bagged the Swarna Kamal. Obviously Girish felt happy and gave the interview. But in the afternoon it was declared that ‘Page 3’ Hindi cinema bagged the best film award at the national level. Girish Kasaravalli’s ‘Haseena’ had to be content with best Family Welfare award and two other awards for best actress and costumes. Answering questions from the journalists Girish Kasaravalli made it clear that he would not make films for subsidy and awards. Just from subsidy and award money no one can make a film he clarified. 

MEDIA IS MY GOD FATHER – the national best actress Thara sitting next to Girish Kasaravalli at Press Club of Bangalore said ‘Media is her God father’. Acting in Girish Kasaravalliji film would give me so much of fame I did not expect said Thara.

The quality films are not reaching the people it should reach said P.Seshadri director of the best regional film award ‘Beru’. The government should set aside a theatre for such films he called upon. 

The national award winner for best costumes Ashrat Nissar was also present on this occasion.