Date:22/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/22/stories/2006052202340500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Film-makers to hold festivals in rural areas

Staff Reporter

The first festival will be held at Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumkur district

The films selected are `Mauni,' `Hasina,' `Artha,' `Pravaha,' `Beru' and Shanthi

A comprehensive film festival has been planned in Belgaum in August

BANGALORE: In an effort to take quality films to the rural audience Kannada film-makers Girish Kasaravalli, P. Sheshadri, Baragur Ramachandrappa, P.R. Ramadas Naidu, B. Suresh and Lingadevaru have hit upon the idea of organising film festivals collectively at taluk headquarters under the banner `Nammora Chalanachitrotsva.'

They told presspersons here on Saturday that the first festival would be held at Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumkur district from May 26 to June 1. Six award-winning Kannada films would be screened there.

The films that would be shown are Mr. Lingadevaru's "Mauni" based on U.R. Ananthmurthy's novel, Mr. Kasaravalli's "Hasina" based on Banu Mushtaq's short story "Karinagaragalu," Mr. Suresh's "Artha", Mr. Ramadas Naidu's "Pravaha," Mr. Sheshadri's "Beru" and Prof. Ramachandrappa's "Shanthi."

The festival would be held at other places in Tumkur district in June and July. Another comprehensive film festival would be held in Belgaum in August, they said.

After seeing the Prof. Ramachandrappa's plan to screen "Shanthi" in some parts of the State and Mr. Suresh's effort to screen "Artha" in Gulbarga and at other places inspired him and the others. "We have realised that collective effort would bring better results and it may give a new momentum to quality film-making. Therefore, we have decided to organise the festivals across the State, focussing on rural areas," he added.