The Karnataka High Court on Friday adjourned to Monday the hearing of a petition challenging a government circular making it mandatory for all cinemas in Mysore city to screen only Kannada films for a week, up to November 7. In its petition, Mysore City Film Exhibitors’ Association has claimed that the order issued on October 20 by the Deputy Commissioner is arbitrary and discriminatory. The Deputy Commissioner had stipulated that all cinemas in Mysore will screen only Kannada films (all four shows) during the week (November 1-7) on account of Rajyotsava. “Running cinemas is a costly affair because of the advent of television. Cinema owners are barely managing to stay in the business and some have closed business after suffering losses,” the association has said in the petition.
Meanwhile, the association has questioned the legality of another circular, which was issued by the State Information Department, asking all cinemas in Mysore to screen only Kannada films for the morning show (from October 19 to 23) during Dasara.