Kannada film producers to stop production activities

The Kannada film producers association has decided to stop all film production activities for one year from October 1, as there have been continuous losses this year and the theatres in the state are encouraging big star non-Kannada films at the expense of Kannada films.

In an emergency meeting held on Friday night, the Kannada film producers association has decided to stop production activities of all the new films that were to be launched from October 1. However, the decision is not applicable to many films that are on floors now and the producers of such films may continue their activities.

"Even if the music composition work of the films had started, we have advised the producers not to start shooting' says Sandesh Nagaraj, President of the Kannada film producers association.

According to Sandesh Nagaraju, who is also one of the leading Kannada film producers, the decision has been taken to save the Kannada film producers from going drain further. He added over 150 film producers who had assembled on Friday have unanimously taken this decision as this year alone over Rs.50 crores of rupees have been lost by the film producers.

The producers have also decided to oppose the simultaneous release of non Kannada films with large number of prints. The case in the point is recently released Mega Star Chiranjeevi starrer "Stailn" and Nagarjuna starrer "Boss" which have been released with a large number of prints, more than what has been prescribed by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.

"We don't have any other alternative than to take this decision as the mounting costs have made the production work even harder. Increasing star remunerations, harassment from cine workers union and the big competition from non Kannada films are cited as the main reasons for the dip in the collections of Kannada films.