The Hindu : 'Resume screening of Tamil films in Karnataka'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 20, 2002

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National

'Resume screening of Tamil films in Karnataka'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Oct. 19. The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) has urged its counterpart in Karnataka to resume "forthwith" the release of Tamil films in Karnataka, stating that there could be no language barrier for cinema.

Release and screening of Tamil films had been stopped in Karnataka following the standoff between the two States over the Cauvery water dispute and subsequent tension in the border districts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The SIFCC's secretary, L. Suresh, in a letter to the Karnataka Chamber's president, K.V. Chandrashekaran, said the SIFCC was shocked by the letter from the Karnataka Tamil Film Distributors' Association, Bangalore, addressed to the Tamil Film Producers' Council, here that they had decided to stop the release of Tamil films in Karnataka and "you have also supported it". They also wanted back the money that was invested in Tamil films for Deepavali release.

Mr. Suresh noted that the Cauvery water dispute was a general issue and everyone had to work hard to solve it smoothly. "We are all one family and there is no language barrier for the films".

However, the Cauvery water dispute was an inter-State issue, for which the Centre would have to act upon. The film industry could appeal to the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to solve the dispute, so that there would be a permanent peace in the two States.

Mr. Suresh said the film industry was undergoing a critical period due to various reasons and most of the films released had not fared well at the box office.

"There must be unity among us for the smooth functioning of the film industry in general, particularly the south Indian film industry."

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