The Kannada film industry led by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce will felicitate Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for extending support to the industry. The gala function is scheduled for May 26. In the last four years the Siddaramaiah dispensation has extended many facilities and introduced many policies sought by the induatry. This is not the first time a Chief Minister is being felicitated by the KFCC in a public function. Earlier then Chief ministers HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yeddyrurappa have been honoured by the industry for their help and support. 

HDK was a film producer before becoming a politician and CM which endeared him to the industry. BSY was a film buff who watched films regularly with his family and reciprocated to the wishes of the film industry. Suddaramaiah does not watch films like BSY or is connected to the industry like HDK. But as CM he has extended the government support in his own way and met most of the requests and help sought. A small example is how he cleared medical help for ailing director RT Raghu within a day. 

Even in government policy Siddaramaiah has been very liberal to the film industry. The Dr Rajkumar memorial was completed and inaugurated by him. Despite many court cases he managed to start the construction of the memorial for Dr Vishnuvardhan. For several decades the request for a film city was pending. The work has now started in Mysuru in a 100 acre plot. 

The biggest contribution came in the budget this month. The ticket prices for films have been capped at Rs 200. The benefit fund for films has been increased to Rs 10 crore from Rs 1 crore. The proceeds from this fund will be used to help film personalities and their families in financial need due to health and other problems. 

KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu has taken the lead in the felicitation programme. Last time such a felicitation was held for BS Yeddyrurappa, actor-director Ramesh Aravind directed the programme.