Kannada film industry rift in the open

The rift in the Kannada film industry may have come out in the open with many of the producers not ready to abide by the diktat of the Kannada Film Producers' Association.

The decision for an indefinite bundh in movie production activities may not go down well with many of producers.

"Not many are keen on joining the protest as it has more or less taken the colour of a family crusade. This includes the indefinite bundh call given by some of the Kannada film producers on production activities," said K V Dhananjay, an exhibitor.

"Now, there is no political will to resolve the issue," added Dhananjay. Former minister Nanje Gowda's statement on Saturday criticising the Rajkumar family for worsening the situation is testimony to the isolation of the protesters that seems to be happening "slowly but surely", he added.

But, the Kannada film producers' association president Basant Kumar Patil denies any rift among them. The value of "lost opportunities" over the last three months has now crossed Rs 50 crore, said Dhananjay.

On Monday the protesting producers held a meeting which they called 'Kannada Swabhimana Samavesha' (Meeting to uphold esteem of Kannada). It was not attended by many of the prominent producers.