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PoliticsMembers of the Kannada film industry, who had voiced their support for actor Darshan when he was accused of domestic violence, have consistently refrained from defending other artists’ political views.File Photo/FacebookWhen actor and activist Chetan Kumar was arrested by the Bengaluru Police in February 2022, he received support from just a couple of his colleagues in the Kannada film industry. Days after his release, the actor, who is also known as Chetan Ahimsa, had told Tnm that he did not expect his industry colleagues to ever speak up for him. As the Bengaluru Police arrested him once again on March 21, this time on flimsier grounds, Chetan’s prediction came true — there was complete silence from his colleagues. This is not unusual for members of the Kannada film industry, whose reaction was similarly docile when Hamsalekha, a legendary lyricist and music composer, was targeted by right-wing groups for his comments...

CinemaThe film has been selected also for the South Asian Film festival of Montreal and is in consideration at Doc New York, International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam, Sundance Film Festival.Pti"Gauri," a documentary based on late journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, directed by her sister and award-winning director Kavitha Lankesh, has won the 'Best Human Rights' film at the Toronto Women's Film Festival 2022. The film has been selected also for the South Asian Film festival of Montreal and is in consideration at Doc New York, International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam, Sundance Film Festival, and other festivals across the world. Kavitha Lankesh, in a statement, said the documentary exposes the physical and verbal threats journalists face every day in India. There were over 200 reported attacks on journalists in India in the last five years, out of which over 30 of them were murder in the last decade, she said. The attacks...

ControversyIt is rare that other language films are given tax exemptions by the Karnataka government and the exemption granted to the Vivek Agnihotri film is due to political consideration, allege critics.Pooja PrasannaJoining the list of Bjp-ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, Karnataka has announced that the movie ‘Kashmir Files’ will be tax-free in the state. The move has been questioned by a few in the Kannada film industry, who attribute ideological reasons to the largesse. Kashmir File, which focuses on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits due to insurgency, is directed by Vivek Agnihotri, who is considered right-wing due to positions he has publicly held before. Filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh says her objection is not about the language in which the film has been made. “Films that won national and international awards have been neglected and nobody is watching them,” said Kavitha. “Earlier, there was a chance that these...

ControversyThe organisation also said that they were disappointed with the media coverage of the recent drugs bust case, where multiple Kannada film actors are facing a probe.Tnm StaffAn organization of Kannada film artistes on Wednesday issued a statement in support of actor Samyuktha Hegde, who was subjected to moral policing by Congress functionary Kavitha Reddy last week in Bengaluru. Led by its president, filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh and Founder and Secretary actor Chetan, the Film Industry for Rights & Equality (Fire) said, “In light of the unfortunate incident against Kannada film actor Samyuktha Hegde in a Bengaluru park on September 4, the conscientious members of Fire condemn such moral policing on the basis of attire against a fellow industry member, as we would, such inappropriate treatment against a citizen of any gender.” They added, “Fire holds that Constitutional freedoms must be maintained for all residents of our state and nation, and any...

CinemaIndrajit revealed that the story is about a woman and that an Oscar-nominated actor has accepted to play the protagonist.Digital NativeDigital NativeJournalist and film director Indrajit Lankesh is on his way to Hollywood! He is going to be the first director from the Kannada film industry to helm a Hollywood film. In an interview to the Hindu, he said, “I cannot share details as yet. But everything is finalised on paper. All I can say now is that I will be off the coming week to Morocco to select the locations. The film is again about a woman, and an Oscar-nominated actress has accepted to play the protagonist. Soon, we will announce everything...” Talking about how he was roped in for the project, Indrajit said, “The producer of the Hollywood film saw the rushes of Shakeela, was impressed and approached me. I can’t express how thrilled I am.

ControversyThe letter's signatories include actor Chetan, director Kavitha Lankesh, actor Sruthi Hariharan, actor Prakash Raj and actor-director Rakshit Shetty.Haripriya SureshThe ‘dump Dileep’ chorus is growing – whether or not the Malayalam film industry giants want to hear it. The Kannada Film Industry (Kfi) and the Film Industry for Rights & Equality (Fire) are the latest in a long line of people and organisations who have condemned the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (Amma) for reinstating Dileep, an accused in the case of the abduction and sexual assault of an actor. In a letter to Amma General Secretary Edavala Babu, Kfi and Fire expressed their disappointment with Amma, and asked the association to revoke Dileep’s reinstatement till he is cleared of all charges, “and uphold the moral compasses that our film industries at their best possess.” The letter has 50 signatories including actors Chetan, Sruthi Hariharan, Shraddha Srinath, Diganth, Meghana Gaonkar, actor-directors Rakshit Shetty and Prakash Rai, directors Kavitha Lankesh, Roopa Iyer and Pannaga Bharana, among others. “Although we of Kfi & Fire espouse the Constitutional notion of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ we deem Amma’s reinstatement as even more inappropriate since the victim has been a member of Amma and the accused has yet to be acquitted of all wrongdoing,” the letter said. “With issues like women’s safety and gender equality being at the forefront of national debate, our cinema industries have strong responsibilities to blaze exemplary trails for the rest of society,” it added. Speaking to Tnm, Kannada actor Chetan said: “Now, to reinstate that person, we believe that it is not a thoughtful decision and it doesn’t reflect well on the industry because there is no information about the innocence of Dileep. We are not judging the guilt or the innocence of Dileep, that is up to the courts,” he said. “From our industry standpoint, it (Amma reinstating Dileep) is not sending out the right message. From our industry standpoint, it doesn’t show that the industry and Amma cares about the victim, who is also an Amma member, and also does not bode well about caring about the most vulnerable people – whether that be a woman in the film industry or a woman victimised by violence in this situation,” he added. Earlier this week, four women from the Women in Cinema Collective – Rima Kallingal, Ramya Nambessan, Geetu Mohandas and the survivor – resigned from Amma soon after it reinstated Dileep. Following this, three other Wcc members, Parvathy, Padmapriya, and Revathy, submitted a letter to Amma, questioning its decision and calling for an emergency executive meeting. Fifteen Wcc members also issued a statement explaining why they had never become part of Amma. Speaking to Tnm, actor Sruthi Hariharan told Tnm about why Wcc’s work was important at this juncture, and why one needs to take a stand. “Wcc was formed at a time when a lot of people raised their voice against a man who is accused in the sexual assault case of a fellow artiste. We have heard a lot of such issues being pushed under the carpet and half the time never spoken about, probably because of a fear of losing out on their career or their morality being questioned,” she said. “I think the work of Wcc is very important, especially the fact that this particular battle that they are fighting against Amma is their biggest battle since the time they started. I found it very inspiring that they raised their voice. Especially as a woman, I think it is even more important to support fellow women and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do over here,” she added. Several prominent members of the Malayalam industry have also slammed Amma. Several actors, directors, producers and other technicians from the industry have called to question the actions of Amma office bearers and have demanded that the public representatives who are part of the body, step down.