MAJOR MISCHIEF
Media Taken For A Ride

Report by - CNB                 Photos by - K.M. Veeresh                     Date -11h September  2004

‘Exhibitor, distributor and producer H.D.Kumaraswamy declined to own the responsibility of a letter faxed to all the media offices wherein the five years ban on S.V.Rajendra Singh Babu was mentioned.

Is this letter signed by me asked Kumaraswamy to a crowded media at Press Club of Bangalore on Saturday afternoon and baffled everyone. 

From this one thing is clear the entire media was taken for a ride.

Who is behind all these pranks? I don’t know. I have to check it out Kumaraswamy replied.

On the reported statement of S.V.Rajendra Singh Babu and Basanthkumar Patil he made it very clear that he has not done any crime to ask apology. When I reach that stage I would retire from my public life he shot back.

However H.D.Kumaraswamy maintained his steady onslaught on Singh Babu and Basanthkumar Patil.

Who are they to talk about save Kannada and films? Basanthkumar Patil is not making films. He is associating with lending money. From the high rate of interest he charges many of the producers today have become beggars. Is this Kannada work? They – Singh Babu and Basanthkumar Patil lead a glamour life – come with nice dresses, use imported perfumes – have they gone to the nook and corner of Karnataka and studied the problems of the farmers. Do they know how badly the schools are placed in Kannada Nadu. I know our farmers the rural people the real ones who save Kannada. I know the smell of the sweat of a farmer. What do they know? I am the son of this soil, living drinking Cauvery water like them. I live here and die here. I never do any shady deals.

Let the god give them good behavior. For the vested interest they are damaging the whole industry. How many exhibitors can raze and build Kalyanmantaps. They are all from this land. They are Kannadigas. If they are not giving appropriate facility they have to be checked, punished. I agreed with that point. The Producer, exhibitor and distributor should live like brothers. 

Let them come. If they can assure that Kannada films would survive with this type of decision, I will take up this case in the Assembly. I would strive for passing a legislation to stop all non Kannada films for ever. 

The way these people are following is not correct. I make humble request by folding my hands. Let us solve the crisis by talks but not going to roads Kumaraswamy urged the protestors.

Asked whether he is the President of any associations related to exhibitors, distributors or producers he clarified that he just a member of all the associations.