The hero returns

Kannada film industry observes bandh over dubbing issue

Activities in the Kannada film industry were paralysed on January 27 as it observed a bandh led by cine artistes opposing dubbing of other language films and television serials to Kannada. Top Kannada film artistes including Shivarajkumar, Puneetrajkumar, Sudeep, Darshan and others took part in a rally that caused traffic snarls in parts of the city’s central business district.
The bandh was called by various Kannada organisations led by Kannada Chaluvali (movement) leader Vatal Nagaraj, which was backed by the Kannada film industry. While Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has taken neutral stand on the bandh as it was party to a case being heard by the Competition Commission of India on the issue of dubbing, the Kannada Film Producers Association had decided to oppose the bandh and support dubbing, citing economic reasons. Speaking to a gathering at the Central college grounds, Shivarajkumar said, “We are not against other language films. Let them also come in, but we are against dubbing very firmly.” Signalling a state wide agitation if there is no positive outcome on the issue, he said, “If we don’t get a correct answer to this issue, we will take the protest all across the state.”
The thrust of the speeches of those who spoke at the rally was that dubbed films and TV serials were against the interests of Kannada film industry and Kannada culture.

Marathi film Killa’s world premiere at Berlin Film Festival

The Marathi feature film Killa will have its world premiere at the ongoing prestigious film festival, Berlinale being held from February 6-16, 2014. Directed by debutant Avinash Arun, Killa is the only Indian film in the Generation Kplus competition category among the 12 films selected from across the world. It is the third Marathi film to receive a premiere at Berlin. The other two films were Jabbar Patel’s Samna in1975 and Umesh Kulkarni’s Vihir in 2010.
Starring Amruta Subhash, Archit Deodhar, Parth Bhalerao and Shrikant Yadav, Killa talks about universal conflict of migration and how it impacts the lives of people, especially children. The story revolves around a young boy Chinu who finds it difficult to adjust to his new surroundings where he has migrated to, after his father’s death. But gradually, he makes new friends and gains confidence.
Produced by Madhukar R Musle, Ajay G Rai, Alan McAlex under the banner, Jar Pictures and presented by M R Filmworks, the film was a part of NFDC Film Bazaar’s Work-in-Progress (WIP) Lab in 2013. Killa is slated for India release in summer.

Tearful adieu to Telugu cinema doyen Akkineni Nageswara Rao

The mortal remains of legendary Telugu actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao were consigned to flames on January 23 amid police honours as scores of film personalities, including Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi and fans bade him an emotional farewell.
Nageswara Rao’s two sons Venkat and actor Nagarjuna lit the pyre at the Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad established by the thespian himself. Family members, including his grandchildren who have followed in his footsteps and are accomplished actors, paid their last respects. Former Union Minister and Congress leader T. Subbirami Reddy, state ministers K.V. Krishna Reddy, D Nagender, veteran producer D. Rama Naidu and popular hero Venkatesh were among those present. Earlier, the body was kept at the film chamber building to enable fans and well-wishers to pay their last respects, before being taken back to the Annapurna Studios in a procession, which was followed by thousands of fans and members of the film fraternity.
Nageswara Rao, who scaled the peaks of Telugu cinema rivaling N. T. Rama Rao in stature between the ’50s and ‘70s, passed away in Hyderabad on January 22, after losing his battle with cancer. Popularly known as ANR, the 91-year-old thespian has given memorable performances in hits like Batasari, Devadas, Prem Nagar, Missamma and Tenali Ramakrishna in a career spanning more than seven decades.
Rao recently completed shooting for his home production Manam (Us) which stars three generations of the family —himself, Nagarjuna and grandson Naga Chaitanya.
A Dada Saheb Phalke award winner, he had acted in more than 250 films, including some in Tamil and Hindi. ANR was instrumental in bringing Telugu film-making to Hyderabad from Chennai, that was home to film production in all south Indian languages.