Film industry crisis ends

The 17-day crisis in the Kannada film industry blew over on Wednesday, with the intervention of the government.

Film producers called off their indefinite dharna following an assurance from Minister for Information R. Roshan Baig of convening a meeting to sort out their issues. Producers have also withdrawn the Kannada film industry bandh call given on Thursday.

The agitation was over producers demanding that actors should not appear on television shows.

The dharna launched by the producers took a dramatic turn on Tuesday with Musuri Jayasimha, spokesperson for the producers, took ill.

He had been on fast for the past three days. Attempts by film industry leaders, including the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Thomas D’ Souza, MLC Jaimala, and others, to sort out the issue went in vain, as agitating producers were in no mood to soften their stand.

Sensing that the crisis would get out of hand, film industry leaders approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who authorised Mr. Baig to negotiate with the producers on behalf of the government.