With a ruling by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) opening the doors for dubbed films and television content in Karnataka – a move long resisted by the local industry – those arguing against dubbing are hoping that the government would step in.
A recent order of the CCI fined representative film bodies, including Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Karnataka Television Association (KTA) and Kannada Film Producers’ Association (KFPA), “for not allowing dubbed content” in films and television into Kannada.
The entertainment industry appears to be in a state of shock and does not know how to respond to the CCI order, which is a legal authority under the Union government responsible for enforcing the Competition Act 2002. The main contention of the industry bodies, that film and television content cannot be construed as “product”, was not accepted by the CCI.
Even as they are contemplating “exhausting all possible options including approaching the Apex Court to protect language and culture”, which they argue would be in danger in the onslaught of dubbing culture, they are also hoping for help from the government.
President of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Karmikara, Kalavidara Okkuta (a body of film industry workers and artistes) Ashok said that bringing in the dubbing culture would be detrimental to the interests of over 10,000 workers dependent on the production of film and television content. He blamed the film bodies for not representing the case properly before the CCI “because of their own limitations.”
However, a Kannada Grahakara Okkuta activist said they had fought for a “Constitutional right” of giving an “option” to Kannada viewers.
“The CCI has upheld the Constitutional rights of Kannadigas of having a choice over what they watch, which was denied to them through unconstitutional methods,” he said.
