Category Archives for Bollywood – Tollywood

No Kollywood superstars on Kerala channels

Movies of Mohanlal and Mammootty make TV channels poorer by 3.5 crore per movie while Dileep and Prithviraj films ranges from Rs 2.75 to 3 crore.

Come Onam, Malayalis may have to do without the standard filmi fare on television and go back to playing traditional games like Thalappanthukali or Thumbithullal!

For long, it has become a practice, especially in the cities and towns, to sit before the idiot box and spend the festive holidays watching relatively new blockbuster movies of superstars.

However, with the Kerala Television Federation (KTF) announcing its decision not to buy any superstar movies henceforth, citing the enormous amounts charged for satellite rights, this is bound to change.

But if you think the television industry is going to be in tatters without cinema, not all agree with that prognosis.

“Almost 80-90% of the entertainment content in television comes from the film industry and the huge dependence of television on the film industry is pretty evident.

But if KTF doesn’t budge from its decision not to buy superstar movies, it will be the film industry that will suffer,” explains noted actress Praveena, who has straddled both big and small screens.

Speaking about how television keeps the film industry afloat, she points out how it is the previews and trailers of the new releases on TV that help draw the crowds to the theatres.

She says, “Films reach television in the guise of mimicry, comedy skits, and music videos or even in the form of artistes.

Similarly, production, distribution and exhibition of feature films are supported by the television industry. Together, both the media have established their co-existence and financial interdependence over the years. Today, TV helps keep the film industry going.”

The Kerala Television Federation secretary Baby Mathew argues, “Television and film industry should go hand in hand as both heavily depend on each other.

Charging exorbitant rates for the superstar movies has put us in a very difficult situation, that is why we have now decided to stop buying movies that come for anything more than Rs 3 crore.

” As per the KTF, movies of Mohanlal and Mammootty make them poorer by 3.5 crore per movie while Dileep and Prithviraj films ranges from Rs 2.75 to 3 crore.

With the KTF announcing after their recent meeting that the television industry can’t pay the price for the escalating budgets in the film industry, Milan Jaleel, the President of Kerala Film Producers Association, retorts that it is not the film industry but the television industry which actually brought on this crisis.

He says, “With the advent of too many channels in Malayalam, the competition among these channels to secure the satellite rights for superstar movies increased and the satellite right rates suddenly rose from Rs 50 lakh to about Rs 3.5 crore.

” Describing films an indispensable entity for the television industry, Milan says the few television channels who have raised the banner of revolt cannot afford to ignore superstar movies, irrespective of the cost.

He even tips off, “With many channels getting ready to launch, I am sure the rates for the channel rights are going to increase further.” (courtesy: Keerthy Ramachandran & Deccan Chronicle)

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Two Film Censor boards in India; CBFC & Udipi ‘Muth’ !!!

KVSS muddle continues!

State of Karnataka, now has two Censor Boards – CBFC & Muth, the Pontiff Board. The Swamijis who are far away from films and pleasures of this world volunteered  to watch a commercial Kannada movie ‘Katari Veera Sura Sundarangi’(KVSS)  that has got U/A certificate.

Sri Santosh Guruji : This time the senior pontiffs like Sri Vishveswara Thirtha of Pejawar Mut, Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adhi Chunchanagiri and Sri Siddaganga Mut Sri Shivakumar Swamiji have asked the juniors to stop at it from this film KVSS.

“For the first time, heads of various mutts have raised voice against a film that depicts Hindu religion and Gods in poor light. Many films that have objectionable dialogues were made in the past. We are warning producers not to make such films in future. Dalits are also Hindus . We cannot overlook the Court order. Yet we have set an alarm bell. Here afterwards any film, film music, bhajans, plays etc should not defame the Hindu gods and goddesses. This time the senior pontiffs like Sri Vishveswara Thirtha of Pejawar Mut, Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adhi Chunchanagiri and Sri Siddaganga Mut Sri Shivakumar Swamiji have asked the juniors to stop at it from this film KVSS.”

: said Sri Santosh Guruji as the collective opinion of various religious leaders  &  bodies called “Math” in Karnataka after suggesting more cuts in KVSS in contrary to the court’s order. On the city Civil Court stay order he had nothing to say. We have to obey the court. Court is above the Swamijis he replied. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other organisations had raised objections over some controversial dialogues and scenes in film.

A meeting organised on Thursday evening to amicably solve the controversy surrounding the forthcoming film KVSS ended in an anti-climax. The producer had agreed to remove objectionable scenes, but a court order against its removal was brought to their notice. K Nagaraj, Regional Officer, Central Board for Film Certification, has said that no one can interfere or disturb the screening of a film once it was okayed by the Censor Board. Whether to agree to Swamijis or to Court order is his piquant situation of the producer Munirathna Naidu and distributor Rockline Venkatesh.

On Thursday evening Sri Lakshmivara Thirtha of Shiroor Muth, Sri Bharathi Swamiji of Adhichunchanagiri, Sri Sureshananda Swamiji, Sri Santosh Guruji and other Hindu Association leaders watched the film at Renukamba Digital theatre suggested two cuts and brought some respite for the producer Munirathna Naidu of kVSS the legal hassle has put the producer in the scissors again. While appreciating the producer for effecting six cuts that show Hindu religion and Gods in poor light, Santosh has advised him to remove two more scenes – one criticising Rama and Krishna and the other one where hero kicks Gods.

Producer of Rs.15 crores first high quality 3D film KVSS  Munirathna Naidu despite of high tension he is facing for the film has decided to make another 3D film after all problems get over.

The Dalit Rakshana Vedike has brought a stay order for the film screening without any cuts from the existing censor cuts suggested. That is very clear that Dalit association has not liked the suggestions made by Hindu Swamijis.

On the appeal made by Sri Pejawar Muth Swamiji, Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji and Sri Siddaganga Sri Shivakumara Swamiji we have seen the film . Till that time we found two more cuts not made and Munirathna Naidu has agreed to it stated Santosh Guruji.

While the Swamijis watching three fourth of the film KVSS suggested for two more cuts for the film and then release the film on Thursday night the piquant situation for producer Munirathna Naidu and distributor of the film Rockline Venkatesh was the City civil court stay order for showing the film KVSS according to the first censor version. The stay order was brought by Dalit Rakshana Samithi. The fact remains that in some parts of Karnataka ‘KVSS’ is screening the first censor version as it is without cuts. Producer Munirathna Naidu agreed to the call of the Swamijis and making necessary changes consulting the Regional Censor Board. Meanwhile he has to rush to the City Civil Court to Dalit Rakshana Sangha filing a case.

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After the ‘Kolaveri’ viral comes a John Doe order!

After the ‘Kolaveri’ viral comes a John Doe order! It may sound strange, but the producers of the Dhanush-Shruti Hassan starrer, 3, obtained a gag order against the Internet distribution of the film from the Madras High Court on Thursday.

The court has restrained BSNL and other Internet Service Providers (ISP) from copying and broadcasting the movie or its songs either in full or in parts after a petition was filed. In her order, Justice KBK Vasuki also restrained distribution of the movie through DVD, VCD and YouTube as well as other social networking sites. Further hearing in the case is on April 18.

This is the first of its kind John Doe order from the Madras High Court, granting injunction against anonymous people who might be committing a breach of the rights of the plaintiff.

The John Doe order is well entrenched in the judicial system of the US, Britain, Canada and Australia but is still in its infancy in India.

The film is released in Hindi and Telugu apart from Tamil on Friday (today). The Hindi version is aimed at wooing a larger audience base and has already been sold for an undisclosed sum. 3 generated a lot of pre-release hype with the Tanglish hit ‘Kolaveri Di’ and a reported lip-lock between the lead pair. Now, the makers have turned shy of the Internet after receiving too much publicity.

This came as a surprise as the film’s promotional song ‘Kolaveri Di’ became a national anthem via the Net with more than 50 million hits on YouTube to date. The film marks the coming together of Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan – the two heavy weights of the southern film industry. Kamal’s daughter Shruti Hassan is paired with Dhanush who is married to Rajinikanth’s daughter Aishwarya. The film has been directed by Aishwarya also.

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