Film Industry Crisis May End

Sensing that the continuation of the present stalemate in the Kannada film industry does not help any one, the Kannada film producers association and the Karnataka Cine workers organisation has now decided to accept the face saving formula that is being drafted by Crazy Star Ravichandran.

Another meeting of the High Power committee has been fixed for the coming Thursday where a final decision about the termination of the present stalemate is to be taken. The day may also see a probable announcement of a settlement by Kannada film producers association and also the cine workers organisation.

The High Power Committee meeting that was held on last Saturday had many representatives from the organisations of the film industry, but the cine workers were represented by its secretary Krishna and Ravindranath, the president of the Dubbing artists association. This move is viewed as some sort of accommodative spirit shown by the cine workers who are not making the retention of Ashok as a prestige issue.

After a series of meetings of Kannada film stars and a high power committee meeting with the representatives of the cine workers a solution has been hammered out. The solution and the face saving formula has been prepared by Crazy Star Ravichandran who has emerged as the new savior for the film industry.

Crazy Star Ravichandran was not present in the press conference organised by the Kannada film stars and the film producers a few days ago has now emerged as a saviour for both the factions. His face saving formula for both the cine workers and the film producers envisages separate organisations of film crafts including the artists association entering into agreement with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and settle the disputes internally without refering the matter to Okkoota.

The dispute has to be discussed in the respective organisations who would directly deal with the Apex organisation or the Okkoota. This formula was discussed in the High power committee meeting on Saturday which was attended by two representatives of the cine workers organisation. Krishna, Secretary of the Okkoota and Ravindranath, office bearer and the President of the Dubbing artists association who had attended the meeting of the High Power Committee said that they would refer the matter to the workers to get their opinions.

It is now clear that Ravichandran is giving the final touches to his formula. Speaking to the media persons in the success meet press conference of "Neelakanta', Ravichandran says that he has made clear to producers and the workers that the success of the agreement will solely depend upon the implementation of the formula in letter and spirit. He also added that film stars and other artists should also enter into agreement with the Apex body and any disputes arising later can only be referred to the body. He said any violation should invite harsh penalties.

'The cine workers should also realise that the present situation where a sole person can call for stoppage of shootings and call for a total strike is not acceptable to the producers. If they cant relent from their stand, then resoltution of the crisis is not possible' said Ravichandran. Ravichandran also made clear that he is also against the decision to stop new launches, ban and boycott calls.