The Tulu Film Industry also known as Coastalwood is taking small steps in the Indian Film Industry. Many films in recent years have made profits and also have earned a good name for the industry. However, recently people of Mangaluru and Udupi were shocked when they found out that the pirated version of upcoming Tulu film ‘Dabak Daba Aisa’ was leaked online.
The film is said to have been leaked. A cyber centre owner in Karkala was selling the film for Rs 20 per upload in mobile!!! Yes, it is true. This is really a sad moment for the Tulu film industry.
A filmmaker works so hard for a film. He treats the film as his own child and unfortunately the child is killed even before it is born.
Bollywood is the most affected industry in India due to piracy. Films are leaked online just a day after release. Films like ‘Udta Punjab’ and ‘Great Grand Masti’ were leaked weeks before their release. Such was the impact of this piracy, that ‘Great Grand Masti’ which was supposed to collect Rs 100 crores did not even collect 10 percent as the film had been watched by audience is mobile phones and laptops!
Piracy is common in big industry, but in a small industry like Coastalwood, it will surely have adverse affect. Tulu films hardly have a market other than the twin districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. In that too, Udupi district market is limited to Udupi city and Karkala. Tulu films are not released in Kundapur and Byndoor.
Certain films are released overseas and in big cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai. However, these releases hardly get good amount of revenue. There are no other revenue sources like ‘Satellite Rights’ and ‘In Film Branding’ in Coastalwood.
With theatrical revenue as the biggest source of income for Tulu films, it’s really disheartening to see films being leaked. It’s not that ‘Dabak Daba Aisa’ is the first Tulu film to be leaked. Films like ‘Ekka Sakka’ have also been leaked. However, the film was leaked after a year of release wherein the film had finished its successful run. That does not mean that it is good to watch a film on laptop or mobile phones illegally after a year.
Watching the film illegally is a crime whenever and wherever we watch it. But for ‘Dabak Daba Aisa’, the film leaking before its official release will have worst effects.
Speaking about this, Ranjan Shetty, an ardent lover of Tulu film says, “It’s really a sad moment. People are trying to kill Tulu film industry. ‘Dabak Daba Aisa’ has been made by the team of ‘Chali Polilu’, which is the biggest hit of Tulu film industry. There are so many expectations from the film. The release date of the film was announced a few months back and it is being promoted well. However, it is very disheartening to see the film being leaked online.”
“The cyber cafe owner was selling the film for Rs 20 per upload in Karkala. The cyber cafe owner must have been given fake notes. That time he would have come to know the effect of piracy,” he added.
The whole Tulu Film Industry has condemned the incident. It’s great to see the film industry being united in this matter. So now what is the solution for this?
It’s simple. People should stop watching films illegally. If you think the film is not worth to watch, please do not watch the film. But do not watch the film illegally. If you are lazy to go to theatre and watch the film, please wait for the official DVD release of the film.
‘Dabak Daba Aisa’ is releasing on August 5. Let’s go to theatres and watch the film and kill piracy.
