Bengaluru: With Telugu film Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion is ready for release on Friday, Kannada films are set to be removed from around 500 theatres, including multiplexes, in Karnataka.
“Kannada film Raaga was released at 65 theatres across the state on April 21. The exhibitors are removing it to facilitate screening of Telugu film Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion,’’ P C Shekhar, director of Raaga film said.
Raaga film is made with a budget of Rs 1 crore. Mithra, a Kannada comedy artiste, has produced it on Mithra Entertainers Cine Creations banner. Mithra and Bhama are the lead pair in this film based on a love story of visually-challenged people.
“After knowing the news of Raaga film being removed from theatres, producer-cum-hero Mithra has been admitted to a hospital for depression,’’ Shekhar said.
The other Kannada films that are set to be removed from theatres are Om, Part-2, Engineers and Telugu films Lanka and Black Money.
Recently, screening of Raaga was organized for Kannada artistes and other celebrities. It has received rave reviews from media.
“I have begged the exhibitors to allot one show for Raaga but they refused to oblige. Many have appreciated Raaga but I am not able to get theatres for screening it,’’ Shekhar said.
Meanwhile, K V Chandrasekhar, former president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the apex body of Kannada film industry, who owns Veeresh theatre that has two screens, said the box-office collection of Kannada film Raaga is not encouraging.
“No exhibitor will remove a film from theatre if box-office collections are good,’’ Chandrasekhar said.
Chandrasekhar said he did not remove Kannada film Rajakumara which is being screened for the fifth week.
“The occupancy is above 80 per cent for Rajakumara film whereas Raaga film is failed to have even 30 per cent occupancy,’’ Chandrasekhar said.
According to him, the box-office collection for morning show of Raaga film on Thursday was Rs 2,300 as against the total collection of Rs 20,000.
“It is the same at all theatres across Karnataka. Let the director, instead of complaining against exhibitors, go to public with daily collection report (DCR) of Raaga film,’’ he said.
N R Sudheer of Vasupradha Enterprises, which is releasing Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion in Karnataka, said the screening would commence at 4 am on Friday and the tickets for all the shows on the first day have already been sold.
“I am eagerly waiting to watch Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion on Friday. I hope it will not let down me. I consider it as an Indian cinema though it is made in Telugu,’’ said R Nandish, a college student.
A few multiplexes in Bengaluru made arrangements for screening Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion at 10 pm on Thursday. “I paid Rs 700 for ticket to watch the film at Inox Garuda in Bengaluru central,’’ Nandish said.
