GECs
Kannada film producers’ fraternity takes on filmdom embargo
BANGALORE: Undeterred by the trade barriers thrust on it by the Indian film industry — mainly represented by the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and some doyens from the Bollywood industry — the Kannada film producers fraternity has decided to take on cudgels and go ahead on its own, at least until the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) presidential elections which is to be held in Bangalore on 25 September.
Reportedly refusing to be cowed down by the film industry across India, most of the Karnataka Film Producers Association members have either accepted the decision saying that the Kannada film industry will improve if isolated from the rest of their brethren in India or have taken a threatening stance saying that Telugu and Hindu film industries will suffer if they tried the Kannnadigas’ tolerance, threatening retaliation along the same lines.
The artistes and technicians who are involved with films across states are worried about their future and hope that the crisis would be solved soon.
KFPA president Basant Kumar Patil (he is also one of the KFCC presidential candidates), having been pushed onto the back-foot by the recent developments, reportedly condemned the embargos announced under the aegis of the South Indian Film Chambers of Commerce saying the Kannada film industry could sustain itself without any support from others. He asked the non-Kannada film industry to take into account the fact that the KFPA is fighting for its survival in the state. He stated that the non-Kannada film industry could adjust their losses elsewhere since they have worldwide releases while Kannada films were limited to the state only. Patil added that the seven-week moratorium on non-Kannada films in the state would stay.
The only other remaining candidate of the post of the president of KFCC, H D Ganagaraju has the support of the out-going president of the KFCC, S. Ramesh and actress Jayamala, Sa Ra Govind among others. Both candidates have released their election manifesto and have assured a quick solution to the problems faced by the Kannada film industry.
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
