Kannada film industry observes bandh over dubbing issue

Activities in the Kannada film industry were paralysed today as it observed a bandh led by cine artistes opposing dubbing of other language films and television serials to Kannada.
Top Kannada film artistes including Shivarajkumar, Puneetrajkumar, Sudeep, Darshan and others took part in a rally that choked traffic in parts of the city's central business district.
The bandh was called by various Kannada organisations led by Kannada Chaluvali (movement) leader Vatal Nagaraj, which was backed by the Kannada film industry.
While Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has taken neutral stand on the bandh as it was party to a case being heard by the Competition Commission of India on the issue of dubbing, the Kannada Film Producers Association had decided to oppose the bandh and support dubbing citing economic reasons.

Speaking to a gathering at the Central college grounds, Shivarajkumar said, "We are not against other language films. Let them also come in, but we are against dubbing very firmly."
Signalling a state wide agitation if there is no positive outcome on the issue, he said, "If we don't get a correct answer to this issue, we will take the protest all across the state."
The thrust of the speeches of those who spoke at the rally was that dubbed films and TV serials were against the interests of Kannada film industry and Kannada culture.