‘I want Kannada film industry to survive and thrive’: Dy CM DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 4 (ANI): Urging the Kannada film industry to take forward the good run it has had over the last few years, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Tuesday that his “advice to the film industry might have sounded harsh and rustic but it was well-wishing”.

“Whatever I said about the Kannada film industry is for its good. My words may have sounded harsh because of their rustic nature. I want the Kannada film industry to survive and thrive,” he said while speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha.

Asked about BJP’s criticism that his words about Kannada film industry were harsh, he said, “I don’t know to use flowery urbane language, my words are rustic, frank and blunt. That is, the media calls me ‘bande’ (the rock). That is my nature and my style. I can correct my style, but truth is truth.”

Asked why film fraternity must participate in the Mekedatu protest of the Congress party, he said, “Film fraternity must fight for the language, water and culture of the land. Why did they go to Hubballi for the Kalasa-Bhanduri protest? Rajkumar used to participate in all the protests to protect the interests of the state, cutting across party lines. Isn’t Rajkumar a role model for the industry?”

“Duniya Vijay, Prem, Sadhu Kokila, Sa Ra Govindu participated in the protests. Are they from the Congress party? We were not protesting to get water supply to my home, it was a protest to get water for millions of people in Bengaluru. The protest will continue even if the film fraternity doesn’t participate. We know the affiliations of the actors, I am only suggesting they correct it at least now. It is up to them to accept or reject my suggestions,” he said.

Asked about director Rajendra Singh Babu’s statement that his statement stemmed from arrogance of power, he said, “Rajendra Singh Babu is a friend. We made him the Chairman of the Academy to help the Kannada film fraternity. It was the same power that gave the position to him.”

“I do not want any accolades. Isn’t it the responsibility of the film fraternity to encourage and protect its own industry? The film festival was not a personal function of Siddaramaiah or me. It was their programme and it is natural to expect them to fully participate in that,” he added.

Asked about Nagabharana’s statement that the words ‘nuts and bolts’ demonstrate the culture of D K Shivakumar, he said, “That is the rustic language that I know of. Let them teach a new language, I will use it.”

When pointed to Nagabharana’s criticism that there was no invitation to the film fraternity, he said, “It is wrong if the invitation hasn’t gone out to everyone. It is festival of our land, shouldn’t everyone participate in it? I welcome criticism.”

“I was also a part of the film fraternity. The Kannada film industry is dying, new movies are not coming out. The Kannada film industry is competing with Bollywood due to a couple of big movies. Today, some of the Kannada movies are of the same quality as Hollywood. Some people are working hard to achieve that quality. I wish that the Kannada film industry grows to greater heights,” he said.

“We are planning to host IIFA award function next year. We have had two rounds of discussions regarding this,” he added. (ANI)