‘Kites’ screening stopped in Bangalore as Kannada film producers protest
By IANSFriday, May 21, 2010
BANGALORE - Several theatres in Bangalore Friday stopped the screening of Hrithik Roshan-starrer ‘Kites’ mid-way as Kannada film producers barged into the theatres protesting screening of the film in more theatres than agreed.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) said that ‘Kites’ producers had agreed to release the film in 21 theatres only, but it was being shown in 45.
The KFCC has drawn up a set of regulations for screening of non-Kannada films in Karnataka to protect the interests of Kannada film producers, artistes and others working in the film industry.
Very often Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films enjoy greater success in Bangalore where more than 60 percent of the nearly 8 million population does not speak Kannada.
Members of KFCC, led by its president Basant Kumar Patil and some actors went round the city stopping the screening. At several places, screening was stopped mid-way and moviegoers were refunded their ticket money.
The KFCC has threatened not to release Kannada films to theatres which violate its agreement with ‘Kites’ producers to screen that film only in 21 theatres in Bangalore.
