KAVITHA'S OUTBURST
Seeks Government Interference
Report by - CNB         Photos - K.M. VEERESH              Date - 8th July  2003 Time - 8-15PM

The Kannada film producers asking for withdrawal of prints from theaters a major section of the producers has expressed their dissent. In the following letter explains all.

From:
Gauri .L.
On behalf of Kavitha Lankesh,
Bazaar Films,
No 9. E.A.T. Street,
Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560004 

Dated -  8/08/2003

To,
Mr. S. M. Krishna,
Chief Minister,
Karnataka.

Dear Sir,

My sister Kavitha Lankesh is the director and producer of the Kannada film
‘Preethi, Prema, Pranaya’ that is being screened successfully in many theatres across the state. Since my sister is out of town right now, she has authorised me to represent her in her absence (a copy of which is enclosed).

Now, some members of the Kannada film industry working under the banner of
Karnataka Film Producers Association have decided to stop the screening of films in theatres. They have also said that all the film producers should get back the film reels from the theatres.

I have been told that this afternoon they have also decided that tomorrow, a
team of producers and some self-proclaimed leaders of the Kannada film industry will go in half a dozen buses to theatres across the city/state and forcibly Confiscate the film reels.

My sister has registered her protest against the Association’s decision (a copy of which is also enclosed). She is not a member of the Association, and hence their decision is not binding on her. Besides, the association did not consult her before taking the decision even though she stands to suffer the most. I would also like to point out that the theatres are willing to screen the film, confirming letters of which are with the distributors Akash Films.
She has made it amply clear that she will not stop the screening of her film.
She has also said that not only will she seek police protection to continue
screening her film, she will also initiate legal measures should the Association do anything which will adversely affect the prospects of her film in the box
office.

A copy of that letter has also been submitted to Mr. S. Ramesh, president,
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. Acting on that letter, he has already
written a letter to the Bangalore City Police Commissioner seeking police
protection to theatres in the city.

You are well aware that a couple of weeks ago when the same Karnataka Film Producers Association had called for a bundh, some anti social elements had
tried to forcibly confiscate film reels from some theatres. Then, you as chief
minister, had immediately ordered that theatres would be provided with police
protection so that they can screen films without any hindrance.
To me, the Karnataka Film Producers Association’s decision to forcibly
confiscate the film reels from theaters amounts to nothing more than coercion,
high-handedness and bullying. In fact, they are no better than the anti social
elements that had attempted to so the same last week. I also fear that their
decision to forcibly confiscate film reels will also cause a serious law and
order problem in the city.

I hereby request you to kindly direct the Bangalore police to give protection to
the theatres where my sister’s film ‘Preethi, Prema, Pranaya’ is being screened.

I also request you to ensure that no one can forcibly confiscate the reels of
the film from the theatres. The film is presently being shown at Kalpana,
Pramod, Puttanna and Nanda theatres in Bangalore. 

Hoping you will kindly oblige.
Sincerely,
 

(Gauri. L.)

Bazaar Films
No 9, E.A.T Street,
Gandhi Bazaar, 
Bangalore- 560004
Email:klankesh@vsnl.com

Dated: 08-08-2003

To,
Mr. Basanth Kumar Patil,
President,
Kannada Film Producers Association
Bangalore.

This is regarding the decision taken by the association yesterday, August 7th,
2003, to withdraw film reels of Kannada films from the theatres.

We strongly protest the association’s decision. We would like to inform the
association that we are going to continue screening of our film ‘Preethi, Prema, Pranaya’. We do not support the association nor its decision. Should the association hinder or hamper the screening of the film, we will lodge a police complaint against the association and its members and continue screening of our film. Any decision the association intends to take which will adversely affect the film we should be informed in advance.

We would also like to inform that if our film is affected in any way, we will
lodge legal proceedings against the association.

Sincerely,
For Bazaar Films,

Sd 
Gauri.
On behalf of Kavitha Lankesh.