PUTTANNA DIES AGAIN?
Government’s stony silence

Scoop report by - CNB              Photos   - K.M. VEERESH               Date - 29th April  2004

While the ace director of Kannada cinema Puttanna Kanagal of the flesh and blood one died 18 years ago the Puttanna made out of bricks, cement, stones and steel and iron in Jayanagar 4th block adjacent to the huge shopping complex – arthath Puttanna theatre chapter ends as the projector room closes down after the night show on Thursday. The Karnataka Film Industrial Development Corporation (KFIDC) associated Puttanna theatre term comes to an end. There will be no showing board from the morning of Friday, 30th April 2004.

According to the order issued by the Government of Karnataka in last December the date of expiry falls on 29th April 2004. 

From ‘Masanadha Hoovu’ (directed by Puttanna Kanagal) showing in Puttanna Theatre on November 27th 1985 till ‘Poorva Para’ (directed by his sishya Chandrasekhar) the theatre passed pretty good days. Starting from Guru it ended with Sishya’s film.

Had the former Mayor of Bangalore City Corporation Prema Cariappa handed over this theatre to superstar Vishnuvardhana and Ambarish when they had come forward to give facelift and maintain it perfectly there was deaf ear from City Corporation.

Today the theatre faces closure leaving the employees of it and innumerable attached sentimentally to Puttanna Kanagal and his films dipped in emotion.

However coming back to the days of Puttanna theatre was formed as a branch of KFIDC when former Chief Minister late Devaraj Urs showed initiative it was Kemparaj Urs after losing money heavily from a few of his films picked up the idea of forming the Puttanna theatre. It was almost during the same period 375 acres of land was set aside at Hesaraghatta for forming the Film City. This is even today is unused.

Whatever said and done there was no loss from Puttanna theatre is concerned. According to manager of the theatre Venkatesh Kumar from 1985 Puttanna theatre picked gradually and even the Voluntary Retirement scheme was also announced. KFIDC earned profit from Rs.3 lakhs to Rs.37 lakhs. There were 50 employees at one stage and there are 19 employees today for the upkeep of the theatre says Venkatesh Kumar collecting drops of ear in his eyes. We have lived our lives so far in the name of ace director Puttanna Kanagal says the employees. The former minister Allam Veerabhadrappa declared when he was the information minister that at any cost Puttanna theatre would not be closed down. Once again it proves in this case also all politicians are known for making just promises and nothing else.

What is another disgusting part with the closure of Puttanna theatre is that in and around Jayanagar area there are no Kannada theatres. Shanthi theatre has been razed, Puttanna has been closed and Nanda in the threshold of closure. The nearby Swagath theatre screen only non-Kannada films.

The Managing Director of KFIDC under its belt the theatre is maintained was not available for comments as there will be no showing board in the theatre and according to the GO the theatre passes to City Corporation limits from tomorrow.

Shruthi Seridhaga, Mangalyam Thanthunaanena, Hrudaya Hadithu, Matte Hadithu Kogile, Asegobba Misegobba, Anuraga Aralithu, Yaarige Saluthu Sambala, Police Mattu Daada, Nagamandala were some of the hit films screened in this theatre in the past. Shabarimale Swamy Ayyappa ran for 100 days in morning shows. This pure Kannada theatre which is located next to the huge Jayanagar shopping complex had shown a Telugu film ‘Nuvve Kavali’ once.

Chitraloka joins many others in condemning the attitude of closing down the Puttanna theatre.