Bengaluru, Apr 16: The lockdown in the wake ofthe coronavirus pandemic has turned out to be a deeply painful story for the Kannada film industry.
Schedules have gone awry following the stay-at-home curbs and operators in Sandalwood, as the industry is popularly known as, say about 100 films under production are affected.
They include big budget movies- 'Raja Veera Madakari Nayaka', 'Kotigobba 3', 'Robert' and 'Yuvaratna.'
Noted producer Rockline Venkatesh told P T I that the loss to the industry is to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees.
In addition, it's a challenge for producers to secure the content of their movies from "piracy and leak" during long periods of time before their release, Venkatesh, who is Secretary of Karnataka Cine Artistes' Association, said.
A leading distributor said even after the lockdown is lifted and situation returns to normalcy, it remains a big question if investment in film business will pay off at all.
"People don't have money. We will know the impact when things become normal. Questions many ask if people will return to cinema halls like the way they did before or they prefer to stay away from crowd."
Venkatesh, who had also produced Rajinikanth-starrer 'Lingaa' and co-produced 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' with Salman Khan in the lead role, said it would take at least one to one-and- half years for the industry to be back on its legs.
"That too if the government does hand-holding but if the industry faces a bad hit in terms of income tax and GST and other taxation, 80-90 per cent of the industry will face closure," he said.
"It does not matter if the government does not help the industry but they should not trouble us with things like IT and GST," Venkatesh, who is also a distributor and artiste, said.
A top director said people's "behaviour" towards movies is crucial for the industry's health in the post lockdown scenario.
"With people likely to shy away from going to malls, cinema theatres because of large gatherings there, it's going to be a long road to recovery for us", an industry insider said.
Striking a philosophical tone, Venkatesh said all that people worry now is to save their life and keep good health, adding, amassing money and wealth is the last thing on their mind.
Producers Soorappa Babu and Umesh Banakar, who is also Vice-President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, told P T I that the industry has taken a huge hit.
Banakar said the loss to the industry due to the lockdown is at least Rs 1,000 crore.
"The coronavirus has affected the entire world. We don't know what to do; we just have to wait," Soorappa Babu, producer of Kiccha Sudeep-starrer 'Kotigobba 3', said.
Comments
Goons.....say something......she was not wearing a burka
showoff...who cares..!!
Show off....who cares..!!
BJP MLAs are playing in crores. where does this money come from. Income tax officers should raid this type of MLAs for right source of income. this is definitely from unlawful activities and illegal. MLAs are playing with crores whereas poor people are carrying dead bodies of their beloved on their shoulders and baby is dying on ones shoulder because Govt hospital did not provide him stretcher. What a shame. Its shameful to our public who select these types of goonda people to be Ministers only to get enriched.
What is her age?
Yes BJP MLA's are all coming in media for wrong reasons.. They themselves living in LUxury and never care for the poor of the country.
The road condition is not good enough for these imported cars....very expensive car.....fixing dent of car will require another one crore....rickshaw guy should be compensated with at least one crore....
everybody once will hit their new vehicle somewhere. why only targeting politicians all the way, if something did by congress, bjp will highlight. if bjp congress will blame. now a days media also doing the same thing, seriously alteast media should stop their saffron views. work for the development of the society provide true news to our people.
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