Film chamber urges Kerala to get tough on video piracy

Kochi, Jul 14 (UNI) The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) today urged the Kerala Government to set up a special court and bring video piracy in the ambit of the new 'Goonda Act' to halt this scourge which was crippling the Malayalam film industry.

Speaking to reporters here after a meeting of the executive committee of the SIFCC, chamber president K C N Chandrashekhar said that Kerala should implement stringent measures to curb video piracy, like some of the neighbouring states were doing.

He said while Andhra Pradesh had set up a special court to deal with video piracy cases, Karnataka was planning to make this an offence under its 'Goonda Act'.

''We need tough measures to deal with this menace which is pushing our film industries into deepening crisis,'' he added.

Mr Chandrashekhar also said that the International Film Festival of India should be held at different venues, especially in south India, where 70 per cent of Indian movies are produced.

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