AP film chamber submits memorandum to Dy CM

The Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) has decided to take the issue of the moratorium on non-Kannada films head-on.

The Joint Action Committee of Indian Film Industry had earlier threatened to impose sanctions on the Kannada film industry over the moratorium on non-Kannada movies.

But, they wanted to meet the members of the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) before taking any action. The proposed meeting was repeatedly put off and never materialised.

It is in the light of this that a frustrated APFCC has submitted on Monday a memorandum to Karnataka deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah. Kannada film industry representatives had met Siddaramaiah early last week and held discussions with him.

At the meeting a compromise formula was reached between the stakeholders "" producers, distributors and exhibitors "" where the seven-week moratorium on non-Kannada films was cut to three weeks. But, the film industries of the neighboring states are not impressed.

The APFCC says in the memorandum that they may be forced to release the movies directly to the exhibitors if the three-week moratorium is also not lifted. It adds that only a simultaneous release of the movies across the country will benefit the industry.

"Any delay in release of movies in any part of the country will only help movie pirates," said Narayan Reddy, a distributor. "The total loss due to the moratorium has now crossed Rs 15 crore," he added.