The Hindu : National : Karnataka biggies give the festival a miss

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Karnataka biggies give the festival a miss

Ziya Us Salam

This despite IFFI celebrating Kannada cinema platinum jubilee

It is peak business time for commercial cinema everywhere: Kasaravalli
Media should cover Kannada cinema regularly, not just when there is controversy

PANAJI: It is like a marriage without the groom. Even as the ongoing International Film Festival of India celebrates the platinum jubilee of Kannada cinema, all major film personalities from Karnataka except actresses Jayamala and Tara and director Girish Kasaravalli have given the event a miss. Even doyen Girish Karnad, whose ‘Dweep’ and ‘Ondanondu Kaladalli’ are part of the Indian Panorama, has not attended the screenings.

T.S. Nagabharna, eight of whose films have won national awards, did not attend the screening of his ‘Nagamandala.’ He is said to be busy with his next project. Old-timer Jayamala has represented mainstream cinema while Kasaravalli, who came briefly to introduce his film ‘Gulabi Talkies’, has willy-nilly ended up as the spokesman of serious cinema.

The festival is screening five Kannada films — ‘Babruvahana,’ ‘Bhoothayyanamagga Aiyyu,’ ‘Dweepa,’ ‘Nagamandala’ and ‘Ondanondu Kaladalli.’ In the Indian Panorama section are ‘Gulabi Talkies’ and ‘Banda Neralu,’ whose director Umshankar Swamy did attend the festival.

“Token celebration”

Speaking to The Hindu, Kasaravalli said: “It is just a token celebration of Kannada cinema’s 75 years. You cannot represent 75 years with five films but it is a beginning.”

The four-time winner of the President Golden Lotus said, “IFFI comes at the end of the year when it is the peak business time for commercial cinema everywhere. And over the past couple of years some commercial films by newcomers have done well. Their priority is that at the moment. Serious filmmakers too are busy trying to finish their films before the year-end. You cannot change the dates of IFFI but there is need for more films to truly represent the State.”

K.N.T. Shastry, chairman, feature films jury in the Indian Panorama section, said: “There are always limitations while selecting films. Some of the films could not be included despite being meritorious simply because their sub-titles were not available.”

Emphasising the need to take Kannada films beyond the State, Kasaravalli said, “Through the authorities and other festivals we need to make this cinema accessible to others. The media should cover Kannada cinema regularly and not just when there is a controversy.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National