TOTAL BUNDH ON THURSDAY
Producers to meet CM
Report by - CNB                 Photos - K.M. VEERESH              Date - 14th July  2003

The Kannada Film producers Association is making it accept or abolish as their mantra. On Sunday, 13th July 2003,  the producers met at Dr.Rajkumar's residence and discussed several issues in two hours meeting between 7 and 9 pm.

On Monday at the high power meeting it has been decided to force the KFCC President to issue a letter to abolish the entire service charge system. 

The films running in the outskirt would be called back. As the meeting with information Minister has not been fixed by us we will directly meet the karnataka Chief Minister and bring to his notice the developments says the producers. Because without giving the reason the information minister meeting scheduled for Monday has been put off. Allam Veerabhadrappa it is understood has called for exhibitors meeting at Hubli on Tuesday and then only he want to take the final decision. We know very well that Allam 
Veerabhadrappa is not the final authority to give verdict on this pressing issue. It is the Karnataka Chief Minister. That's why we are apprasing the CM says the bunch of producers.

The service charge shot up from just 25 paisa to Rs.1.50 and there is also a rumour that the exhibitors are seeking the increase to Rs.3.

Without properly asking the producers the KFCC made the decision to share the service charge collected in theatres. We don't want to share this service charge now. Out of three prominent sectors the producers and distributors are supporting issue pertaining to the abolition of service charge. Why can't they - exhibitors agree to our terms on other issues like INR, Health cess and show tax? 

Now most of the exhibitors have already resigned from KFCC. On Thursday, 17th July 2003 the entire industry that includes shooting and post production activities would close down. This applies even to Television channels and their airing of programs. The producers association has decided to put the issue before the public.

The prominent producers Rockline Venkatesh, Munirathnam, K.Manju, N.Kumar, Director S.V.Rajendra Singh Babu, Joe Simon, S.A.Govindaraju, Shivrajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar,  KFPA President Basanthkumar Patil, Ganesh  were also present at the meeting of the producers on Sunday evening.