The Hindu Business Line : Telugu film industry meet on Karnataka ban on Sunday

FACED with the prospect of losing Rs 50-crore revenue annually because of the ban in Karnataka, the Telugu film industry is planning to bring to a halt all its activity on September 5 to chalk out an action programme to tide over the situation.

The Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) has convened a special general body meeting to discuss the unofficial ban clamped on the release of non-Kannada films in Karnataka.

The meeting would also discuss "certain important issues" concerning the film industry, said Mr C. Kalyan, Hononary Secretary of the Chamber, in a statement.

The chamber has asked all sections of the industry to put a halt to all activity right from shooting, dubbing, recording, and re-recording to allow the members to take part in the meeting.

The Telugu industry's concern over the ban is obvious. "It comprises 10 per cent of our market," Mr D. Suresh Babu, leading producer and son of Mr D. Rama Naidu, the chief of Suresh Productions, told Business Line.

"Bangalore is like an important district like Guntur and Nellore as far as the Telugu film industry is concerned. If the ban continues, we will be losing 10 per cent of our business."

The Telugu industry, however, is not planning to retaliate. "We are not going to do that. It is a law of jungle. We are not for that," Mr Suresh Babu said.

He added that a delegation comprising leading film personalities had met Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, to discuss the issue and seek his intervention.

The Telugu industry is not the lone complainant. Hindi, Tamil and English films too come under the seven-week ban. Last Friday, a high-level delegation led by producers Yash Chopra and Boney Kapoor met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, urging him to intervene and sort out the issue.

Shravanthi Ravi Kishore of Shravanti Movies said that the Karnataka ban was unfortunate.

His new movie, Gauri, starring Sumanth and Charmy, opens on Friday. "It is no wrong to protect their industry. But this is not the right way. It does no good for Kannada industry as well," he said.

More Stories on : Cinema | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page