Kannada film industry is suffering from several issues ranging from a small market for the films, other language movies eating into the collections of Kannada films, shortage of screens etc. Despite this the industry has managed to survive and has been churning out hits. However to add to its woes Kannada films are being illegally screened on small screen.
Local cable channels are telecasting Kannada films illegally, which is affecting the box office prospects of the film. In what can be called a shameful incident, a cable channel, N TV has illegally telecasted hit movie “Raajakumara” on its channel. The producers have filed a complaint against the channel with the Film Chamber and the Cyber police. The movie has completed 75 days in box office and is still running successfully. However with the film being telecast on cable channel, there will be a dent in collections of the film.
The producers have warned of legal action against the erring channel. The leak may have happened after the release of SunNxt video streaming platform of Sun Network. The internet and satellite rights of “Raajakumara” are with Udaya TV, a channel of Sun Network.
This is not the first time, a thing like is happening. It is a norm to play films illegally on cable channels. But most of them do so, after the film’s run has been completed in box office. However in certain incidents, this has not been the case. A local channel in Mangaluru had played “Simple Aagond Love Story”, when the film was still running in theaters. Rakshit Shetty, the lead in the film was very upset with the development and openly criticised the channel. The channel later stopped airing the film. Suri’s “Kendasampige” too was a victim of this. A Bengaluru-based local cable channel had telecasted the film, when the film was running successfully in box office.
Screening of films illegally has become a norm with no action being taken. Speaking about this, Yuvraj, an employee of a local channel says, “We play films of all languages. We either download the film from Youtube or from Torrentz and telecast the film. But in my channel, we make sure that we do not play films, which are still running in theatres. Especially Kannada films, we make sure we do not play when they are running in theatres. But there are many channels, who do not care about anyone and run the movie. There will be demands from people to play certain films and we end up entertaining their request.”
Most of these cable channels have support from politicians, which makes them fearless. In a city like Udupi, most of the cable channels are said to be backed by politicians from Congress and the BJP party. It is the same case in other cities. Producers and distributors are scared to take on these bigwigs and keep quite.
Commenting about the same, Anirudh, a person working in cable channel says. “Some people from film industry are also involved in this. We play new Hindi films in our channel. We have a tie up with distributor. We also pay him some money. After the film is removed from theaters, we play the film. A Hindi film will be aired on our channel within three weeks of its release”
This trend of illegal screening of films will affect box office prospects of the film. Take for instance the recent case of “Raajkamumara”. The film is a family entertainer, which is being loved by female audience. Normally aged women go to theatres after getting reviews. Now when the film is telecast on TV, they will not go and watch the film in theatres.
The solution to this is that the whole industry unite and stop this menace. Illegally screening of film should be stopped, even after the film is out of theatres. A film’s satellite rights are sold to channels and only they have the authority to air the film. Even they suffer losses due to illegal screening of film.
A case should be booked against erring channels and heavy penalty should also be imposed on them, so that they are discouraged from doing so.
