The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : There is no ban on other language films: State

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Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

There is no ban on other language films: State

Staff Reporter

Submission made in court following a petition by a
cinema in Kolar

BANGALORE: The State Government on Monday submitted to the Karnataka High Court that there is no permanent ban on exhibition of non-Kannada films in the State.

In its statement of objections, the State stated that there is no ban, permanent or otherwise, on screening or exhibiting of non-Kannada films.

However, there is a decision taken by the Kannada film industry that non-Kannada films should be exhibited in the State only two weeks after their release in their States.

The State made this submission when a petition by Jayalakshmi Talkies of Kolar came up for hearing. The cinema had challenged an order of January 15, 2008 asking it to screen a Telugu film only two weeks after its release in Andhra Pradesh.

The manager of the cinema said he is an exhibitor of Telugu films. He said he had purchased the rights for exhibiting the Telugu film, “Dashavaratam.” The film was slated for release on June 13, 2008.

However, the district authorities of Kolar had orally instructed him through the Mulbagal Police to postpone the screening of the film by two weeks. An order was also passed and the authorities showed him a resolution relating to a moratorium on screening of non-Kannada films.

The cinema had said any restriction on screening or exhibiting non-Kannada film is in violation of the Constitution and also a Supreme Court decision.

The State contested these arguments and said the District Magistrate is empowered to impose certain conditions on the exhibition of films when it affects Kannada films.

It said in this particular case, the District Magistrate had passed orders only in the interest of giving prominence to Kannada films. “In a linguistic State, it is the duty of the Government to give prominence to improve its (language) culture and film industry,” it said.

Justice N.K. Patil disposed of the petition. He asked the cinema to give a representation of its grievances to the authorities and directed the authorities to consider it as per the law.

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