The Hindu : Front Page : Kumaraswamy promises support to art films

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 26, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Kumaraswamy promises support to art films

Staff Reporter

`We are committed to developing the Kannada film industry'

THE BEST: Murali and Shruti who were presented the best actor and best actress awards respectively at a film awards function at Ramanagara on Saturday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

RAMANAGARA: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that the Government will extend all support to art films in Kannada.

Presenting the annual film awards for 2004-2005 in his Assembly constituency of Ramanagara on Saturday,he said that the Government is committed to the overall development of the Kannada cinema industry.

Responding to a 16-point charter of demands made by film actor and MLC "Mukhyamantri" Chandru, the Chief Minister clarified that the process for establishing a comprehensive Kannada cinema academy has already begun and the Government will appoint a person to head it.

The Government is awaiting the V.N. Subba Rao panel report to evolve a comprehensive policy on Kannada cinema. The Government will also take up the long pending film city project. It will give Rs. 25 lakhs for the best children's film as announced with retrospective effect from 2004-05, he said. Having started his career as a film distributor he is aware of the problems faced by the industry, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

Releasing a souvenir, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said the dream of the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition Government is to develop the State as a model in the country.

Mr. Kumaraswamy presented the Puttanna Kanagal Award to director A.T. Raghu, the Rajkumar Award to actor M.P. Shankar, and the Lifetime Achievement Awards to producer Chandulal Jain and posthumously to film actor Vajramuni.

The awards carry a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, a gold medal, a memento, a citation and a shawl each.

The other major awards presented were: Best male actor Murali for the film "Kanthi" and best female actor Shruti for the film "Gowdru."

The award for the best male playback singer went to S.P. Balasubramaniam and the best female playback singer to Chitra. The award for the best photography was presented to H.C. Venu.

The award for the best first film went to "Mona Lisa," the best second film to "Beru" and the best third film to "Gowdru."

Girish Kasaravalli's nationally acclaimed film "Hasina" was given the award under the special category, socially effective film. The awards carry a purse of Rs. 20,000, a silver medal, a memento, a citation and a shawl each.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail