Film festival opens as part of Dasara celebrations

Mysore, Oct 13 (UNI) Noted veteran actor and producer M P Shankar declared open a week long film festival, as part of 10-day world famous Dasara celebrations, in a glittering function here today.

Speaking after the inaugurating the festival at Kalamandira, Mr Shankar urged the government and the fans to encourage the Kannada film industry to compete with other language films.

He recalled the days when the Kannada films was produced for just Rs 75,000 to Rs one lakh but today most of the Kannada films are big budget movies. He stressed upon a good story and a theme.

Noted film producer Smt Parvathamma Rajkumar, who presided over the function urged the Kannada film industry to strive hard to compete with other language films. She also stressed that along with commercial movies, good historical and mythological films should be produced.

Karnataka Information Commissioner Ravindranatha Tagore speaking on the occasion urged the leading artists of the Kannada film industry to earmark funds from their earnings to help the artists in the industry. Even though more than 85 Kannada films produced annually only four to five movies become hit, he said.

Fifty films would be screened during the festival in nine cinema halls in the city for the first time. Documentary films would be screened for children at Bal Bhavan, with the support of the Film Division. The documentaries and films on freedom fighters, Indian independence, eminent artistes, art and places of historical importanance would be screened twice a day.

Film Selection Committee has tied up with Mysore Film Society to screen award winning foreign films that carry a message at Kalamandira. Award winning film 'Datu' directed by K Shivarudriah, was screened at Kalamndira as part of the inauguration.

A two day seminar on the status of the Kannada film industry has been organised at Ranagayana. The seminar on 'cultural form of Kannada films' and 'cinema and social responsibility 'has been arranged.

A photo exhibition of Kannada films released in the past 50 years has also been arranged at kalamandira for the first time.

UNI