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Karnataka exhibitors on warpath No more screening of FD docus
A FRESH row has erupted between cinema houses of Karnataka
and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting over the
compulsory screening of Films Division documentaries.
Theatre owners assert that the 15-minute documentaries rob
them of advertising revenue, but the ministry is firm that
screening them is a must because of the government’s
responsibility to spread awareness about various issues.
In the late ’70s, these documentaries had made a quiet,
unsung exit from cinema halls. But the issue is hogging limelight,
with Sushma Swaraj taking over the ministry. It was her predecessor,
Arun Jaitley, who had made the screening of the documentaries
again a must. This had raised eyebrows as Jaitley is known
for his strong views on free market and minimal government
intervention.
On record, theatre owners maintain they don’t want to
show the ‘propaganda films of poor quality’. But
apart from this and the lack of popular interest in these
films, another reason for not screening these documentaries
was the 1 per cent levy that the government collects on sales
proceeds. This 1 per cent comest to about Rs 32,000 a month
for Bangalore’s big cinemas such as Santhosh, Triveni,
Kapali, Nataraj and others.
“The Government threatened us that if Films Division
documentaries are not screened in cinema halls, our licences
would not be renewed. Why should we screen such poor quality
films and to, top it all, pay 1 per cent of ticket sales?”,
questioned BCS Narayan, the owner of Santhosh and Triveni
theatres.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president KCN Chandrashekhar
asserted that the exhibitors would screen these documentaries
only if they were given free. “If the government thinks
of any action against theatre owners reluctant to show these
documentary films, all of us will unite and decide to shut
down”, he warned.
Chandrashekhar also criticised the government’s intention
of asking the theatre owners to present these sub-standard
films. “These films are already being shown on National
Networks. Even the audience gets jittery and bored with these
sub-standard documentaries. These films are usually old and
outdated,” he observed.
Agencies
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