: Gururaj Kidiyoor, Dean (Academics) of T.A. Pai Management Institute, said on Saturday that the Kannada film industry required more support from the State government as it was weaker compared to counterparts in other South Indian states.
He was speaking after the release of a survey titled “Kannada film industry: Challenges and way forward” conducted by students, during the inaugural function of the seminar on “Challenges faced by Kannada films” organized by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and other organizations, here.
Prof. Kidiyoor said film business was inherently risky hence it needed support from various quarters. Since movies were a dimension of culture, there was justification for the government. A large number of families were dependent on the Kannada film industry.
The government should increase subsidy for Kannada movies, incentivize novel-based films, and use money collected through cess for benefit of the industry.
The government should increase the addition cess per ticket from Re 1 and used the money collected through this cess for benefit of the industry. It should increase the subsidy to the Kannada films. It should incentivize novel-based movies. The Karnataka Film Development Corporation should be revived.
The government should promote Kannada movies outside the State. It should also lay emphasis on building small theatres and establish film institutions to promote quality Kannada cinema. It should help build a sustainable investor class. A separate department for films should be established.
As far the Kannada film industry was concerned, it should give importance to story and originality in the films. It should conduct market surveys and do smart marketing of the films produced.
The Kannada film industry had a limited market. The industry also lacked movie making infrastructure in terms of good studios, film cities, film institutes, financing of films and non theatre revenues including TV rights.
The average cost of producing a Kannada movie was about Rs. 4 crore, the average approximate revenue was about Rs. 2.5 crore. The cost escalators were longer production time, wastage and star remuneration. Kannada stars did not act in many movies.
This resulted in exhibition of non-Kannada films. The remake culture in the industry was skilling creativity and originality, Prof. Kidiyoor said. S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu, President of the academy, Sandhya Pai, senior journalist, and others were present.
‘The government should increase subsidy for
Kannada movies’
