In a significant development in the 80-year-old Kannada film industry, the north Karnataka region severed its relationship with the Karnataka Chalanachitra Vanijya Mandali (Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce – KFCC) and formed the Uttara Karnataka Chalanachitra Vanijya Mandali (UKFCC).
Displeasure over monopoly of Bengaluru-based KFCC over film production and creating more opportunities for film fraternity of northern Karnataka are being cited as the reason for the move.
However, according to Shankar Sugate, head of UKFCC, the new film body was formed to protect the interests of producers, distributors, exhibitors, technicians and others of the north Karnataka region. “We don’t have any intention to divide the KFCC and the move cannot be misconstrued as an attempt to further the cause of a separate State identity to the north Karnataka region, as being propagated by a section,” he clarified.
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Mohana Nagammanavar, writer and vice-president of the UKFCC, added that the film fraternity from the northern region had been planning to float its own body for the past 15 years, when the fight for a High Court Bench began. However, the then president H.D. Gangaraju refused to respond positively. “After waiting for long and undergoing humiliation both culturally and economically, we have finally decided to float a film body of our own,” he said.
Describing the new film body as the “self esteem symbol” of north Karnataka, new office bearers said that the move would rejuvenate the Kannada film industry. Even personalities such as Patil Puttappa were supporting the move to float the new film body, accusing the Bengaluru-based KFCC of being apathetic to the north Karnataka region.
The new group that was registered around four months ago, has 136 members from 13 districts. “It will represent the pivotal bodies: exhibitors, producers and distributors,” said Mr. Sugate.
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The development created ripples in the KFCC. Thomas D’Souza, president, KFCC, rebuffed the allegations levelled by both Mr. Sugate and Mr. Nagammanavar, and described the move as “childish”. “I am associated with the KFCC from the past few decades. I don’t agree with the allegation that the film fraternity of north Karnataka is being discriminated,” he said.
The former president K.V. Chandrashekar also had a similar response. “There is no question of discrimination. North Karnataka region is getting all the sops extended by the government and the question of monopoly in the film industry does not arise,” he said, and accused vested interests of dividing the unity of the eight-decade-old Kannada film industry.
Uttara Karnataka Chalanachitra Vanijya Mandali
aims to create
more opportunities for the region