State Censor says `Cut' to subsidies to filmmakers
The shadow-boxing be tween the Regional Censor Board and a section of filmmakers has come out in the open with RCB officer M Nagendra Swamy writing to the state government suggesting a slew of measures to “promote qualitative Kannada films and new talent“. This has trig gered a perception among one faction that the recommendations are aimed at curbing art-house films.
This faction had earlier been accused by another section of the film industry of trying to get Swamy transferred.
The letter, dated January 12, 2015, is addressed to the principal secretary, Department of Kannada & Culture.Mirror has access to a copy of the two-page letter. Sources in the government confirmed it is an official letter written by the Central Board of Film Certification officer.
Swamy's ideas have left some film-makers fuming. “It is well-known that art films are released in a handful of theatres, if at all.
“Even some small-budget commercial films do not get 10 theatres. A film that does not get entry to a film festival will risk the chance of not recouping its investment.If you look around, there are no art films made in Telugu at all.At least, we make alternative films.“
Films make in 7 days
The letter notes that the CBFC worked extra hard and streamlined the system to help the Kannada film industry and certified 202 films in 2014.
However, the board found them floundering on quality.Stating that only six films were not certified in the year for failing to fulfill CBFC rules and guidelines, the letter says, nonetheless, the overall quality has declined.
“Quality and standard of majority of films examined in December were not satisfactory and they were made keeping in mind subsidy offered by the government.There are reports that three films were made in just seven days.
“These films are bringing down the overall quality of Kannada film industry and are defeating the efforts of the Karnataka government and the CBFC in promoting aesthetic value and good cinematic standard films and qualitative Kannada cinema as envisaged in subsidy and awards policy of Karnataka government (sic),“ the letter states. According to Swamy, if the , suggestions are implemented, it would eliminate non-seri ous film productions and weed out the “same people getting subsidy every year.“
Calling for encouragement to new talent and new experi ments in Kannada, the letter . says new producers and pro duction houses will be assured subsidy. Without increasing allocation, the subsidy amount can be increased to Rs 25 lakh from the current Rs 10 lakh, it says.
Every year, the Karnataka government gives out subsidy to 100 Kannada films. While four children's films get Rs 25 lakh each, four historical films are eligible for Rs 25 lakh each. Films based on lit erary works get Rs 15 lakh each. The rest get Rs 10 lakh each.
Censor officer has stepped out of line, say film-makers
Former Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Basant Kumar Patil, who has made award-winning art films, says the Censor officer has no jurisdiction to make such recommendations. “He may make suggestions as a citizen but not as a censor officer.“
“What is a theatre release?
There are thousands of ways to see a film today. And commercial films are not shown in film festivals. So, mixing these two as criteria is wrong. I humbly say the officer has no jurisdiction here. There are veterans who know what is happening in other states, in the nation and in world cinema,“ Patil added. Multiple national award-winner Girish Kasaravalli said, “He can make such recommendations as an individual, but not as a censor officer. I will take up the issue with the (Karnataka Chalanachitra) Academy.“
Producer-director B Suresha, said, “A central government officer should not poke his nose in the state government affairs. He can write to the editor as a concerned citizen, but not as a censor officer to the government. Subsidy is a support system. If the government feels the industry has grown and is standing on its own feet, let it abolish it altogether.“
This faction had earlier been accused by another section of the film industry of trying to get Swamy transferred.
The letter, dated January 12, 2015, is addressed to the principal secretary, Department of Kannada & Culture.Mirror has access to a copy of the two-page letter. Sources in the government confirmed it is an official letter written by the Central Board of Film Certification officer.
Among other things, the letter suggests films seeking government subsidy should either have been released in 10 theatres in four major centres, including Bengaluru, or “should have participated in one of the recognised film festivals in India (IFFI, BIFFES, MAMI etc)“. And the suggestion that is likely to rattle every art-house film-maker: “All producers and production houses are eligible for only two subsidies in their lifetime.“
Swamy's ideas have left some film-makers fuming. “It is well-known that art films are released in a handful of theatres, if at all.
“Even some small-budget commercial films do not get 10 theatres. A film that does not get entry to a film festival will risk the chance of not recouping its investment.If you look around, there are no art films made in Telugu at all.At least, we make alternative films.“
Films make in 7 days
The letter notes that the CBFC worked extra hard and streamlined the system to help the Kannada film industry and certified 202 films in 2014.
However, the board found them floundering on quality.Stating that only six films were not certified in the year for failing to fulfill CBFC rules and guidelines, the letter says, nonetheless, the overall quality has declined.
“Quality and standard of majority of films examined in December were not satisfactory and they were made keeping in mind subsidy offered by the government.There are reports that three films were made in just seven days.
“These films are bringing down the overall quality of Kannada film industry and are defeating the efforts of the Karnataka government and the CBFC in promoting aesthetic value and good cinematic standard films and qualitative Kannada cinema as envisaged in subsidy and awards policy of Karnataka government (sic),“ the letter states. According to Swamy, if the , suggestions are implemented, it would eliminate non-seri ous film productions and weed out the “same people getting subsidy every year.“
Calling for encouragement to new talent and new experi ments in Kannada, the letter . says new producers and pro duction houses will be assured subsidy. Without increasing allocation, the subsidy amount can be increased to Rs 25 lakh from the current Rs 10 lakh, it says.
Every year, the Karnataka government gives out subsidy to 100 Kannada films. While four children's films get Rs 25 lakh each, four historical films are eligible for Rs 25 lakh each. Films based on lit erary works get Rs 15 lakh each. The rest get Rs 10 lakh each.
Censor officer has stepped out of line, say film-makers
Former Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Basant Kumar Patil, who has made award-winning art films, says the Censor officer has no jurisdiction to make such recommendations. “He may make suggestions as a citizen but not as a censor officer.“
“What is a theatre release?
There are thousands of ways to see a film today. And commercial films are not shown in film festivals. So, mixing these two as criteria is wrong. I humbly say the officer has no jurisdiction here. There are veterans who know what is happening in other states, in the nation and in world cinema,“ Patil added. Multiple national award-winner Girish Kasaravalli said, “He can make such recommendations as an individual, but not as a censor officer. I will take up the issue with the (Karnataka Chalanachitra) Academy.“
Producer-director B Suresha, said, “A central government officer should not poke his nose in the state government affairs. He can write to the editor as a concerned citizen, but not as a censor officer to the government. Subsidy is a support system. If the government feels the industry has grown and is standing on its own feet, let it abolish it altogether.“
