ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗ ಎತ್ತ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ? ಸಂವಾದ-2

ನಟರಾಜ್‌ ಅವರಿಗೆ,

‘ತುಂಟಾಟ’ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡಿ ನೀವು ಸಿಕ್ಕಾಪಟ್ಟೆ ಸಿಟ್ಟಾಗಿದ್ದೀರಿ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯಿತು. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಸಿನಿಮಾದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಗುಟ್ಟು ನಿಮಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗಿಲ್ಲವಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಮಾಧಾನವಾಯಿತು. ಅದೇನೆಂದರೆ, ನಿಮಗೆ ಕಿರಿಕಿರಿ ಉಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದ ಈ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ಪೂರ್ತಿ ಕನ್ನಡದ್ದಲ್ಲ. ಇದರ ಅನೇಕ ದೃಶ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಂದಿಯ ‘ಕುಚ್‌ ಕುಚ್‌ ಹೋತಾ ಹೈ’ ಚಿತ್ರದಿಂದ ಅನಾಮತ್ತು ಎತ್ತಲಾಗಿದೆ. ನೀವು ಈ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕನನ್ನು ಬೈಯುವುದಾದರೆ, ಆ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕನನ್ನೂ ಹೋಗಿ ಬೈದು ಬನ್ನಿ.

ಆದರೂ, ನನ್ನ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರ, ಈ ಚಿತ್ರ ಈಗ ಬರುತ್ತಿರುವ ಅನೇಕ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದರಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಲವಲವಿಕೆ ಯಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದ್ದು, ನೋಡುವಂತಿತ್ತು! ಇದೇ(ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದರಲ್ಲಿ) ಉತ್ತಮ ಎಂದರೆ ಉಳಿದ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಹೇಗಿರುತ್ತವೆ? ಎಂಬ ಕುತೂಹಲವೇ? ನಿಮಗೆ ಅವನ್ನೂ ನೋಡುವ ಸಮಯ, ಸಂಯಮ ಇದ್ದರೆ ನನಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿ. ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಕಳಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಮಾತು - ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡುವಾಗ ತರ್ಕ ಬಿಡಿ, (ನಾನು ಎಂದೋ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇನೆ) ಅಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೂ ಈಗಿನ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತರ್ಕ ಎಲ್ಲಿರುತ್ತದೆ? ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮಗೆ ತರ್ಕ ಬೇಕೆಂದಲ್ಲಿ, ನೀವು ‘ತರ್ಕ’ ಎಂಬ ಶೀರ್ಷಿಕೆಯಿರುವ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನೋಡುವುದೇ ಮೇಲು.

ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅಳಿದುಳಿದ ಸಿಟ್ಟನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಮೇಲೆ ತೀರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಡಿ!

-ತ್ರಿವೇಣಿ

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Thank for your article about "Nodalaare naa kannada chitra".

As a director of Kannada film JokeFalls and as a NRI let me share some of the facts of film industry.

1) In every film industry, wheather kannada, english, telugu, tamil, or Hindi, only 10% of the films are box office hits. Out of which only 4 -5 films are watchable.

As an NRI, you and I dont mind giving 10 dollars to watch a crappy hollywood or bollywood film. When we see a crappy hollywood film, quickly we forgive hollywood film industry and go on watching rest of the hollywood/bollywood film. When you see a bad kannada film, why dont you extend a same courtasy?.

As a film maker, the biggest battle we are fighting is this negative opinion against kannada film industry. A lot of kannadigas think that watching kannada film is below their standards.

Under this circumstances why should i spend hard earned 60 to 80 laksh rupees, putting together a product which people are biased against, to begin with.

So, please dont expect every film to be the best film. But when you hear about a good film, please go out of the way to support it, the way Tamilians and Telugu people do.

And for your information, the theatre rent in bangalore city is close to 2 laksh/week. Under this circumstances, how do you draw people to theatres while every house has 120 channel cable TV?. And it is nightmare to drive to a theatre to watch a film in bangalore city, because of its horrible traffic.

Today, the only people who are standing by kannada film industry are those lower middle class, and lower class people, while the upper class and middle class people have long abandoned their support to kanada films.

Unfortunately, it is viscious circle. The producers keep catering to those who come to the theatres, and the class audience dont come to the theatre because they think all kannada films cater to front benches.

And I would like to thank some of your readers for their support to My film Jokefalls.

-Ashok Patil, Director of JokeFalls (WWW.jokefalls.com)

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Dear Nataraj,
Nice to see that you addressed a subject people normally shy away from, possibly due to retaliation. Enjoyed reading your analysis of the Kannada movie in particular and the industry in general. I personally believe it is in doldrums. The industry needs improvement in every aspect of the science of making a movie. I am hoping that somebody with some money will commit to make at least one good Kannada movie a year. As you have put it, nothing is watchable on the Kannada screen. It is sad.

-Sarvotham Doss, Member, Northern California Kannada Koota

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I read you article appeared in thatskannada.com. Most of the stuff you have written about Recent Kannada movies are true. However, your choice of watching the movie, ThunTata with your daughter was not good. It is as good as watching Jerry Springer Show or Howard Stern show with some one who has come recently come from India. Before watching the movie, you could have asked the opnion of someone in Bangalore or searched the web for the review of this movie.

Did your Daughter react in the same way when she watched Mathadhana or Preeti prema pranaya or poorvapara (i am quoting these movies since these are some of the recent movies released in US). Compared to other languages, the number of movies released are less and in that the number of good movies are even less. The crowd who watch Kannada movies in and around Bangalore have changed drastically. This is one of the reason why the quality of the Kannada movies have gone down. Among Indian Languages I watch only Kannada movies, the frequency has come down so much, it is like one movie in 2+ Years. I patiently wait for the next good kannada movies. Thats all I can do.

-venkatesh jagadeeshwara

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Namaskara Nataraj sir,
This is Kiran from Bangalore. I have read the Article on thatskannada.com and I felt really Bad but wat u said in that article and u r views are really relistic and i also agree about it.But we should not put ourself downin every Language we have gud as well as bad movies in" America America" there is one Dilogue "Namma Tayi Harikalu Sari huttidalay Antha Beray yaro Reshmay Sari Huttirona Namma Tayi Annokay Agotha" Namma Mathru Bashay na Navu Alday Beray yaru belisutharay nivay heli?

"Roja" which is big Hit in Tamil but the Same filim if our language I coudnt think it would have been that much Hit. But "Muthina Hara" Which is one of my Favourite Filim didnt Got So much Recognisaion as "Roja" got Since it has Got a Wonderfull Story i am Still unable to Under stand that. Recently we have lost "Soundrya" Even though she made fame in Another Language She was not happy bcoz it was not in Kannada. And she has Produced Some Filims and Serials to .It is Really unlucky for us as well as Our Language that We lost her and it is incomplete with out talking about Actor and Director "Shankar Nag" he has Directed "Malgudi Days"and as my knowledge is concern i havent seen such Serials and it is best serial i have Ever seen.and one more info i ned to say is our Language got 7 Jnanpith prashasthi award.

I think no other Language in india has got Correct me. If I am wrong. The Problem we are facing is Lack of Patriotism from our people itself. So I am requesting not to loose hope in our Filims and definately our producers and directors wil produce good filims.and Recently I saw "ApthaMitra" it is such a lovely movie and really i felt bad that we lost Soundrya .and plz take your Daughter also for this movie.

And I am Thanking Anu for her Supporting toward our Language. Anu avaru helida hagi "EE ella kahi satyagala naduvene naavu namma kannadana preetisabeku"

-Kiran D, Bangalore

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I certainly agree with the review of the Kannada movies written by Nataraj. As I hear from my parents in Bangalore, most of the kannada movies which are recently released are not appropriate to view with family members. I have the same opinion too. Wish we get a feedback or review and based on that Kaveri or any other organization should get the movies to be
screened here. There are so many excellent Kannada movies also produced but not screened over here such as Dweepa by Girish Kasaravalli. I am still waiting to see this.

-Kusuma Aralere, Centreville, VA

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Please find my response below to "Nodalare naa Kannada Chitra" by Dr. Nataraj recently published in thatskannada.com.

Kannadigas only comment about quality of Kannada movies. Has anyone thought of the quality of non-kannada movies. Out of nearly hundred movies produced in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi each, only two or three movies will be good and the remaining majority are the flop movies which will not be released in Bangalore and we do not come to know.

Majority of Hindi and tamil movies are direct copy of Hollywood movies or being inspired (nothing but remake) by them. Recent Bollywood and Tamil movies like Jism, Julie, Boys , Naach and other majority movies are full of Sex and violence. Even the so called Great director Manirathnam adds cheap songs to sell his movies and there would not be any good story in them. There is nothing good to say about recent Telugu films. The same Narasimha Naidu, Kondaviti Donga stuff with the new Junior NTR and two heroines dancing with him.

Comparitively in Kannada we had good movies like Chigurida Kanasu, Kushi, Excuse Me, Kanti, Mani, Heartbeats, Aptha mithra, Partha, Preethi Prema Pranaya, Paris Pranaya, Abhi, Appu, ChandraMukhi Pranasakhi, Nanna Preethiya Hudugi etc., which where whole family enterntainers. So only thing I want to tell is leave misconceptions about Kannada films and go and see good kannada movies. Bad movies are produced in all langauges not only in Kannada.
In Chennai because of low quality Tamil movies many theatres people are not going to theateres and they have been converted in to Kalayana mantaps.

Tell me how many movies our Cosmpolitan Kannadigas have seen recently in the following list - Rishi, Shadyanthra, Chigurida Kanasu, Kushi, Excuse Me, Kanti, Mani, Heartbeats, Aptha mithra, Preethi Prema Pranaya, Paris Pranaya, Abhi, Appu etc which were containg good story, direction and hit music by great Kannada music directors Hamsalekha, GuruKiran, Manohar etc.,

We have new talented lyricists like Kalyan(remember "ChandraMukhi Pranasakhi" Songs), Dr. Nagendra Prasad(Excuse Me) and the great Hamasalekha who has written many good songs like "Maha prana Deepam" from Sri Manjunatha and national award winning composition for Sri Ganayogi Panchakashari Gawai. Gurukiran gave good hit and melodius music in the movies Rishi, Kushi, Partha, ApthaMithra, Abhi, Appu and many more

I request distributors in US to distribute the following good films in the states. They can check with the Movie buffs here about good hit kannada films before screening them in US.

Rishi, Shadyanthra, Chigurida Kanasu, Kushi, Excuse Me, Kanti, Mani, Aptha mithra, Abhi

Also I request some volunteers to distribute good hit kannada films in our Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad etc., where significant numbers of Kannadigas are residing.

Do Amerikannadigas know "Swades" a Hindi film is a direct remake of the kannada film "Chigurida Kanasu" made by the great Director T.S.Nagabharana based on Dr. Shivarama Karanth’s inspirational Novel.?

-Sampige Srinivasa, Bengalooru

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Dear Nataraj,

Your article is good but facts are wrong. Just watching one scrap movie you shouldt come to conclusion about whole kannada film industry. According to me main reason behind people thinking bad about Kannada industry is -Everyone will comment only on bad movies, they will highlight only bad movies and will never appriciate good movies. - this is the same case
with you also. take your daughter to movies like AAPTHAMITRA or CHIGURIDA KANASU or JOKE FALLS etc defenetly she will appricate.

One more thing, i have seen people comparing kannada industry with other industries such as telugu tamil or hindi. Here is the facts about telugu industry last year(which is having nearly 5 times bigger market than kannada industry).

Total Movies released: 122
Movies declared as hits: 13
Hit Percentage: 10%
you can cross check these number here
http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/2004retrospect-movielist.html
now if u analyse hindi or tamil industry i dont think they will cross 15%.People of other states will appreciate good work and will encourage people who has given bad movies, so that next time they will come up with good movies, but in our industry SUNIL KUMAR DESAI gave two flop movies and he is no more in the industry. Karnataka people should change their mindset on kannada movies.

-Manjunath S, Software Engineer, ACS India
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In respose to the news "Na Nodalre Kannada citra", I think author has genralized things out of propotion.

Well, I too agree that TUNTATA is not up to a mark. After said that,let us not forget that this was released some years back. By this time many good films are released. Rather blaming on entire industry the author should blame on his choice.

If we follow the same logic of the author, then when can criticize all the articles of the author are as scrap and doesnt posses any quality. In other words we can conclude .. "odalaare naa nimma lekhana".

Can we ??

-Praveen BS

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I disagree with the writer when he writes as if all Kannada movies are bad. Good and bad are there in all langauge movies. But is only among Kannadigas that such a debate goes on about movies quality. If Tamil or other language movies do well, its not that they are all gems, but their viewers are fanatic about their language. If they dont like something, they simply reject it, but never go on and on about the quality, particularly in public. They always take care never to discuss a bad movie in front on non-Tamils. But we take great pride in announcing to the whole world that all our movies are worthless, and our filmmakers have no talent at all. And now we have a certain pseudo-intellectual going around telling everyone in public functions that watching a Kannada movie is like a punishment. If! it hurts him so much, then let him just get out of the job h! e is assigned and let others do it, who cares! Nobody has forced him to stay on and watch the movies.

We are very bad in packaging. The distributors need to select only those that have done well and received good reveiws from people (note, not just the professional reviewers of newspapers) and send them to the NRI community. But we never do that, we just take some movie that comes our way and send it across. If it bad, it gives the impression that all of them are bad, as we see here from Natarajs article. Nobody notices a good product which is inside a bad package. We dont know whether it is intentional, but there are instances when poor quality films, songs are presented to the public hiding the really good ones behind. Vasundhara Das sings in Tamil and Hindi. But there are some complaints against her that when she sings Kannada songs, she picks up the ones that are inferior. Is it intentional, so as to give a bad impression about Kannada songs and movies to the so-called cosmopolitan crowd gathered there? During the days when Doordarshan was the only TV channel, we cou! ld notice that most of the songs in Thursdays Kannada Chitramanjari were not that popular. Even when a movie had superb songs, they used to air the one that was least poplular. All this leads us to think that it is intentional, and we Kannadigas dont know how to package our products well.

We should have the openness to accept really good Kannada movies and not brand all of them as trash just by seeing one or two.

-Depak K.L

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Namaskara saar..

Ella Kannadigaru swalpa yochane maadi..

I agree that kannada films are not able to reach even kannadigas..But I am unhappy about our kannadigas that they (almost..) dont even speek of good films in kannada.

Please dont compare our bad films with good films of other languages..Compare good films with good films.Try to make comment on good films and spread info on good films released.If good film (like Yajamana, kanasugara, Apthamithra) is remake people stop speeking about it.

But we see even in other languages lot of remakes.. (like Tagore of Chiranjeevi, Vasool raja MBBS of Kamal Hasan etc..)

Here is some list of films which are recent hits in kannada..and reched almost all Kannadigas who love our Kannada. Hoomale, Amruthavarshni, Chandramukhi, Pranasakhi,Yajamana, Kourava, Abhi, Appu, Huchha, Majestic, Kariya, Excuse Me, Dasa, Paris Pranaya, Chandra Chakori, Raktha Kanneeru, Sparsha, Simhadriya Simha, Aptha Mithra, Kutumba, Malla, Kanasugara, A, Preethse, Nammora Mandara Hoove, Nanna Preethiya Hudugi, Neelambari, Matadana (Award Winning), Sambhrama, Habba, Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu, Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu.

please see thse movies and then comment...try to spread news good films and good things always than bad films and bad things.

-Ravikumara YM

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Hello guys,

Well i always look at various kannada related discussion forums, news websites, thatskannada.com and so on. The only 2 issues that i found to be famous around are the kannada filmdom and Bengalooru becoming bangalore.

I have been observing the industry for few years. What i have found from my observation is the adbsence of serious movie making attitude. This was the process for atleast 2 decades. Then imagine the number of My. Sri Natarajas the industry might have created. Kudos guys!! you did a great job.

I still remember mr. PL indrajiths interview on some kannada channel. He was talking about the usage of laser lights and a remix song for the thuntata movie. God trust me a guy being in the film industry for such a long time shouldnt even consider the laser lights and all that junk to be the best parts of a movie. Come on indrajith did you think laser lighths are the things really guys looking for???

Anyways such movies are there everywhere. Take the recent hindi flicks like the Musafir. There was nothing in the movie some skin show, digital sounds, good graphics works and the stylish sanjay dutt. Nothing was absolutely new in it. But still chaltha hai in hindi.

Kannada industry has miserably failed to understand and work with a big market with 5 crose customers. That too being in the heart of indias silicon valley. They couldnt find or make another rajkumar, another vishnu or a kamal hassan or any other.

Look at the telugu and tamil industries. They make stupid movies too but still they can pull people to theatres. There is no youth in our sandalwood trust me. How many good technicians, script writers, music directors were made in sandalwood or atleast encouraged??? Taal was a horrible movie by a great director. But atleat it made money thru its music and on tables.

There were atleast 5 telugu movies which made me really walk out of the theatre due to stupid story/cast or whatever. But then immediately they came out with aithe, manmanthudu and few more. There were many many boring to the core chiru, nagarjuna and rajanikanth, kamal movies around in the recent past. Even then tamil/telugu doesnt have a problem coz they balance. This is what is lost in our industry. They surely need some energy drink to refresh their minds and strengthen the whole industry and bring back people to theatres. Guys if you need a break take it but please...

-Guru Chaturvedi

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