Mysuru: “I still remember Satyajit Ray saying, ‘Where there are good audiences, there are good films,’ in the 70’s,” said famed director P Seshardi, inaugurating the Indian Panorama Film Festival Mysuru, organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Karnataka Information Department, Mysore Film Society and the Kannada and Culture Department.
“I still have a dream of screening quality films to a packed audience” he added.
The Indian Panorama Film Festival – Mysuru is going to screen over 18 films from across the country, in various languages from February 23rd to March 1st. “There is only one Kannada Film that made the cut this festival, and everyone asks why, it’s because there are hardly any award winning films made in Kannada,” Sheshadri pointed.
“There was a time in the 70’s when Kannada films were setting the standard, but that is not the case anymore. Marathi films also faced a similar situation. And then a movie called ‘Swash’ that changed the face of Marathi films and even knocked on the doors of the Oscars.”
Government Support
The Marathi Government now gives close to 40 lakhs in subsidies for films. “We still get 10 lakhs, like we did ten years ago,” Sheshadri said.
The Maharashtra government also makes sure every multiplex in the city screens each Marathi film 127 times a year. The Karnataka Government had also promised to open 300 Janata theatres across the state, and this was in the last budget but it hasn’t been implemented yet.
This is will help get award winning movies to the people in smaller towns and cities and not just to audiences in towns and cities, he added.
Kannada Audiences
Talking about the number of Kannadigas who watched Kannada movies, Seshadri says, “There are 6 crore Kannadigas but only 15 lakh watch movies. Which is why the government should work towards a better system of encouraging good Kannada Films and bringing out some films with substance, he added.
Tamil Director Brahma G also spoke at the event, “There is world cinema that reflects society. Sadly Indian films don’t capture the essence of the soil or the culture of the soil.”
Zilla Panchayat President Dr. Pushpavati Amarnath also said a few words on the occasion about feeling nostalgic as she used to watch award winning films on Doordarshan. Award Winning Actress Nivedita also touched on the fact that award winning films need to be screened at more venues across the country.
MCC Commissioner Dr. CG Betsurmath, Directors Nandan Saxena, Kavita Bhal, Deputy Director of Information Department and Prashant Deputy Director of Directorate of Film Festivals were present on stage.
