Kerala movie sutra has few takers in Bangalore

The Kerala film industry has devised new ways of bringing costs down. While it may work for them, their counterparts in Karnataka don't think the same benefits the industry here

The Kerala film industry has devised new ways of bringing costs down. While it may work for them, their counterparts in Karnataka don't think the same benefits the industry here

Kerala movie producers' steps to salvage their industry will not work in Karnataka, actors and film-makers believe.

The Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) yesterday came up with guidelines to make their industry profitable again.



They want to trim budgets to Rs 3.5 lakh a film, and enforce discipline on the sets. They also want to restrict mobile usage by actors during the shooting.

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) will meet on November 25 to discuss a pay-cut for actors.

"It is a good decision but it can't apply to states where audiences have tasted more lavish productions. We have to compete with films from all languages, and we have to spend more," said Rockline Venkatesh, producer of this season's big Kannada hit, Manasaare.

Distributors ask for grand films. "We can adopt Kerala's distribution system but not its restrictions," Venkatesh said.

Producer K Manju says, "I welcome the guidelines. It will help producers and the industry survive."

Ramu, another big producer, said, "They have taken a brilliant step, and we should follow them and stop wasting time."

He was all for cutting the remuneration for stars and technicians.

Actress Ramya was not so sure the guidelines would help. "Such rules don't work in the world of films.

Filmmakers should concentrate on scripts that help bring the audiences to the movie halls. And if a good movie is made with a small budget, I personally won't ask for a big remuneration," she told MiD DAY.

Director Raghuram of Cheluveye Ninna Nodalu, whose unit is travelling around the world to shoot at the seven wonders, said, "We can't restrict any creative job."

He described Malayalam film makers as trendsetters. "But if we follow these rules, producers will benefit and the directors' dreams will suffer," he said.

S V Rajendra Singh Babu, producer and director, agrees that payments to stars is damaging the industry. "Everyone should sacrifice for the industry's growth," he said.