The Emergency imposed on the country 40 years ago had its impact on the film industry in Karnataka. Chandamarutha , a Kannada film produced and directed by Pattabhirama Reddy came up against the Censor Board and was banned.
When Pattabhirama decided to make the film to express his dissent over the curtailment of freedom of expression, many intellectuals joined hands with him.
Distributor M. Bhaktavatsala of Sharada Movies and Surendranath Banerjee of Vani Films supported the director, besides acting in the film. Artists and technicians from amateur English and Kannada theatre groups volunteered to work with him.
Pattabhirama’s wife Snehalatha Reddy and daughter Nandana Reddy played important roles in the film. Akumal Ramachandra and Ashok Mandanna also acted in the film that was all about authoritarianism.
According to film historian Vijayamma, the film was said to have been inspired by Kranti Bantu Kranti , a play by Lankesh. It was shot in 16 mm and blown up to 35 mm. The Censor Board banned the film in 1975. It was allowed to be screened only after the Emergency was lifted in March 1977, with several cuts.
The other film
Chitegoo Chinte , directed by noted film-maker M.S. Sathyu, was made during the Emergency and was also described as a take on authoritarianism. C.R. Simha, Manjula, Paula Lindsay, karate expert Ram Prakash, and B.S. Achar played important roles in this film.
This 129-minute film is a satire set in an imaginary land. B.S. Achar, a theatre actor essayed the character of a bed-ridden political leader who runs the government with just a flick of his fingers.
While Javed Akhtar scripted the story, Ashok Gunjal handled the camera and G.K. Venkatesh scored the music.
