The Karnataka government’s decision to outsource the making of some of its documentaries, funded by the Information Department, to private television channels has left independent filmmakers in the State fuming.
More than 20 documentary filmmakers met Information Minister R. Roshan Baig on Tuesday and urged him to revert to the old practice of funding independent filmmakers selected by a panel to make government-sponsored documentaries.
MemorandumThey said in the memorandum that while about 30 short documentaries under the ‘Nelada Siri’ series were outsourced to private television channels last year, the government was set to outsource another set of documentaries this year as well.
Veerappa Maralavadi, one of the signatories, said the government’s decision was “undemocratic” and disregarded the creativity of independent documentary filmmakers of the State.
N.R. Vishu Kumar, Information Director, however, said the government had not stopped funding independent filmmakers, but was exploring involving television channels as another option.
“We have not stopped funding independent documentary filmmakers. For instance, this year we have asked 41 women documentary filmmakers to make films on women-related themes,” he said, and added that the government was keeping “both options open”.
Mr. Kumar argued that this had been done “transparently and democratically” by inviting tenders. The television channels not only made the films, but also made two free telecasts and provided free commercial time. “It is a way of reaching out to a larger audience,” he said.
He said the funding provided was also “scientific” based on the TRP rating of channels and other parameters.
