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BANGALORE:
The Tamil Nadu (TN) film fraternity has decided
to hold a protest fast tomorrow against the
ban on Tamil films and the damage inflicted
to theatres that were screening Tamil films
in Karnataka.
All
screening of films in TN will stop as will all
film- related work for one day.
TN
chief minister K Karunannidhi’s recent
remarks over the controversial Hogenakkal water
works project last Sunday caused the Kannada
activists to ban the screening of Tamil films
in theaters on Monday.
The
activists had also called for a blackout of
Tamil channel transmissions in the state, finally
provoking the TN film fraternity to launch a
protest against the ban.
Aditionally,
the Kannada film fraternity has also called
for a one day fast at Bangalore’s Town
Hall tomorrow in support of the Karnataka government’s
stand on the issue.
Though
all film production and associated work will
be stopped, theaters will be allowed to screen
movies.
During
his speech, Karunnanidhi had warned Karnataka
against putting hurdles in the Hogenakkal water
project stating that he was running out of his
patience now.
This
made the fuming Kannada activists accuse the
Tamil Nadu government of lobbying with the center
to implement the controversial project, though
the matter is under dispute. The activists have
also accused the UPA government at the center
of repeatedly ignoring the interests of Karnataka
state.
However,during
a meeting between the activists and representatives
of the cable operators in Karnataka yesterday,
the cable operators convinced the Kannada groups
that blocking Tamil transmissions was not in
the interests of ‘peace and harmony in
the state’. Hence now Tamil transmissions
will continue in the state.
Furthermore,
as per reports in certain sections of the media,
The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC)
has suspended all the of members of the Kannada
film industry for failing to protect cinemas
screening Tamil films in Karnataka.
The ban will stand until things return to normal
in Karnataka. Reportedly, the action has the
backing from SIFCC members from Kerala and Andhra
Pradesh.
“This
is a unilateral decision taken by the SIFCC
president KRG. We have no communication from
the SIFCC about any suspension till now, though
it has been reported in Tamil papers from Bangalore
as well as on Tamil channels,” said a source
in the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC).
“The
SIFCC represents the four southern states. As
per the bylaws, the SIFCC president cannot take
a decision to suspend anyone on his own,”
informed the source.
Also
Read:-
Screening
of Tamil movies stopped in Bangalore
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