Date:03/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120301680200.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Film lovers continue their wait

Staff Correspondent

Call to set up film academy headquarters in the border city of Belgaum Call to set up film academy headquarters in Belgaum

Chief Minister made an assurance to this effect in April

Bangalore-based cinema lobby blamed for delay

Belgaum: Film lovers in Goa have all reasons to rejoice as well as feel proud to play permanent host to the International Film Festival of India since 2004.

When people in Goa cheer the 37th IFFI, which will conclude there on Sunday, their counterparts in Belgaum painfully remember a promise by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to establish the headquarters for the Karnataka Film Academy in this border city.

Mr. Kumaraswamy had promised to base the headquarters of the academy in Belgaum during his second visit after becoming Chief Minister, to the city on April 8. It has been more than seven months now and there appears to be no move to fulfil the promise.

In fact, establishment of the academy was one of the several promises made by Mr. Kumaraswamy that day.

In hope

The city-based Ajanta Film Society (AFS) had become hopeful on the possible development along with its own revival so as to work together in promoting national and international cinema, particularly Kannada and other Indian languages cinema.

Poor patronage

Sources in AFS say that the Chief Minister might have come under pressure of Bangalore-based cinema lobby, which would never be interested in having the academy headquarters established outside State capital. The AFS, which was founded by Subash Chougale in 1982 with C.V. Bellur as its first chairman and the former as secretary, is now virtually defunct.

From 150 members then, it has come down to less than 10 now, thanks to poor patronage.

Many aims

It was started with the objective of studying film as an art and a social force by screening films of cultural, artistic and technical merit, for educational, cultural or scientific purposes without deriving any profit, encourage film production of artistic value and inculcate values, promote appreciation of films of artistic value among members of public and research on art films.

It also aimed at working with national and international organisations having similar aims and objects.

A branch was also planned to cater to the needs of children.

During its initial years, the AFS could organise an international film festival (at Rupali theatre) in 1985, which was inaugurated by the then Governor of Karnataka A.N. Banerjee.

`No support'

However, the AFS could not sustain its activities due to rigid rules pertaining to Sales Tax and Karnataka Entertainment Tax, and for want of patronage. Neither was there any support from the Government.

Establishment of film academy in Belgaum would not only go a long way in achieving its objectives, but also in addressing the cultural imbalance prevailing in the State, a member of the film society said.