‘Not enough theatres for Tulu films’

There is a lack of theatres for the release of Tulu movies, members of the Tulu film industry have said.

“In the year 2018, there were 15 Tulu movies released. This year, 22 movies expected to be released. Tulu movies require a minimum of 25 single screen theatres,” said the members.

They were speaking at the ‘Tulu Movies Shathotsava’ organised at Nehru Maidan by the Coastalwood Artistes’ and Technicians’ Association (CATCA) to celebrate the screening of 101 Tulu films.

Director Ismail Moodushedde regretted that only one among the 15 Tulu films released a year ago had sent the cash registers ringing. “What will be the fate of the remaining producers?” he asked.

The director added that the Tulu film industry could not achieve the expected success due to a lack of theatres and the discriminatory attitude of the multiplexes. “All of us should work at getting a theatre on C Road reopened,” he urged.

Senior director and producer Richard Castellino said, “I am happy to witness more movies are released in Tulu language. Quality movies should be directed. The story itself is a hero for a movie. If the story is good, then half of the success is achieved. Humour should be only a part of a movie. Instead, a movie should include all the ‘navarasas’ in it.”

Director Vismay Vinayak said a competition should be organised in Tulu movies with respect to production for the movies, acting, story and music.

Competition for the release is not a good trend, he stressed, but favoured a need for a workshop on film making.

Senior director Thamma Lakshmana said that cinema is a confluence of art, science and business. “If a movie is running well, then another movie should not be released for a minimum of four weeks. A majority of the movies in the past had achieved success
due to their music. Owing to remix of music and gimmicks, literature has taken a back seat,” he regretted.

Director Ramkamal said negative publicity on a movie should be avoided. “The artistes should work in coordination. More experimental movies should come in Tulu,” he suggested.

Actor Manju Rai Mulooru said that for the first time Tulu cinema artistes and technicians had come together under one platform.

“Such programmes will help in solving many problems,” he stressed.

Tulu Shathotsava, however, saw poor response from the public in the morning. During the inaugural programme and at the interaction, only a handful of people attended.

District In-charge Minister U T Khader, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy president A C Bhandary, Karavali Group of Colleges Founder Chairman Ganesh Rao and others were present during the inaugural programme of the Shathotsava.