When Karnataka Information Minister B.K.Chandrashekhar recently announced in a function at Mysore that the Government is seriously thinking of putting an end to the exemption of tax to the remake films, he might not have foreseen the row it has kicked up now. The topic of discussion in every forum, press conference or a function connected to films has been the statement made by the Minister. The Minister has also announced the cut off date as August 1. This has resulted in a mad rush for obtaining remake rights from some successful films from other languages and gearing up for production of these films.

     The Information Minister has spoken his mind after a lot of deliberations is well known, as he has chosen to make the statement after giving indications about the fall in the standards of the Kannada films in many forums. To be fair to the Minister, he has been reciprocative of the problems of the Industry and has been having constant interaction with the leaders of the industry. He has done his Home work well with regard to Kannada films, as could be seen from the statements he has been making from time to time.

     The Statement of B.K.Chandrashekhar has elated a section of the Kannada film Producers and Directors, while a large section of producers are opposing the decision. Many leading film producers are really agitated over the decision, which they term as a tool which can finish off the growth of the Kannada film Industry in one stroke. They also foresee a prospect of lesser number of Kannada films in the making and the resultant effect of lesser job for film employees and layoffs and problems the theatres may face with regard to screening of films. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce is thinking of taking a delegation of its members to meet the Minister and convey their fears to the Minister in the event of stopping tax exemption to the Kannada films.

     Now, all the films whether original or remake films, enjoy a 100 percent tax rebate of entertainment tax, in comparison to other language films. The other language films will attract higher admission rates in theatres in comparison to Kannada films. Remake films are already facing a deterrent now, that subsidy is not being paid to the films which are produced after obtaining the remake rights. Even the Government has dilly dallied regarding the policy about the remake films. While the tax exemption was in force earlier, the Moily Government removed the tax exemption to remake films. Then during the Janata Dal Government, another policy came into force which gave full tax exemption to remake films. Now, the present Information Minister is talking in terms of removing the tax exemption and has also indicated that the new policy will come into force from August 1 this year.

     The directors of remake films are saying that the tax exemption for remake films has virtually killed the creative growth in Kannada films, and all the leading actors, producers and directors are focussed to make the remake films. Artists who have good command in the Box office readily give call sheets to remake proposals, thus rendering it impossible for any creative film maker or film director to approach them for a straight subject. The mushrooming growth of remake films and their support system from the distributors have also dwarfed the markets for good original films, say the opponents of remake films.
Leading producers also complain that the growth of remake films have also resulted in increase in remuneration of Super Stars like Vishnuvardhan, Ravichandran and Shivaraj Kumar.

     A large section of producer and directors who are now producing remake films say that the Kannada film Market has improved only because of the remake films, as could be seen from the collections of many successful films. "A film like "Suryavamsha" was declared as the biggest hit last year. This year's biggest hit is "Preetse". Kannada film viewers are not discriminating to remake films. Why should anyone rise a hue and cry about remake films"-says Rockline Venkatesh, a leading producer.

     A delegation of film workers represented by "OKKOOTA" is also meeting the Information Minister to present a memorandum to him warning that the new policy may result in a fewer number of Kannada films produced and lay off to the film employees. Mr. Ashok, the Chairman of "OKKOOTA" says that when remake films are succesful and people are seeing it in large numbers, the Government should not discriminate against it.

     The Government has not decided about anything yet. But still the Information Minister's statement gave enough indications about the thinking of the Government.. Now it has to be seen, how the Government will react to the varying opinions in the Industry regarding the stoppage of tax exemption to remake films.