Can it be true?

Are the radical language-chauvinists in Karnataka's film industry actually serious about banning new movies that arent in their language and made in their State? Can the Kannada film industry actually carry out such a moratorium? I take it this means that Hindi, Tamil and English movies are all "banned". Is it true that in Bangalore the police are frisking movie-goers who want to see Veer-Zaara to make sure that nobody is carrying weapons? I'm appalled!

I read in the BBC that the film industry thinks the moratorium is justified because of dwindling audiences and huge losses. Well, all I can tell those sad losers in the Kannada movie business is that the answer to that is to improve the movies THEY make, instead of banning other, better, movies in other languages! If people watch Kannada movies only by virtue of the fact that there isnt anything else to see, what sort of improvement will THAT be? This is the point where all those "ships" sail in - censorship, dictatorship, etc. Besides, I'm pretty sure that the local Kannadigas will rise up against this ridiculous ban after a while... wouldnt it get boring to be able to see only Kannada movies on the big screen?

However, I cant help wondering if this radical step is just another in the running feud between Kannadigas and Tamils. It's such a shame that there seems to be so much intolerance of Tamils. (I can understand if they target the autorickshaw drivers from Tamil Nadu who are plying their extortionate trade in Bangalore - they're making it nearly as bad as Chennai!)

But I dont understand the fear of Kannadigas that they will become a minority in their own State. So what? Are they afraid that Tamil Nadu has plans to annex Karnataka or something? As if, once Tamils are officially greater in number, Tamil will become the official language and Kannada will be forgotten. Protecting a language is all very well, but it has to be done in a proactive manner. Banning other languages isnt the way to do it, just as banning other-language movies isnt the way to promote Kannada movies. Well, it's certainly not the sensible way.

Besides, if it's that easy for a language to become defunct, then perhaps it deserves to go the way of the dinosaurs. If a language cant change with the times, cant adapt, that's all it deserves. This applies to the Tamil language as well, and language chauvinists from Tamil Nadu. What's the point having signs and bus destinations and road names in Tamil only, or Kannada only? If multinationals are to be lured here, with their attendant jobs and investment and prosperity, the way to do it isnt to ban English! That is a huge step backward - not only that, it practically guarantees isolation.

Besides, isnt it mostly those who havent had an education in the English medium who are the most vocal supporters of language chauvinism? If they cant come up, they'll bring it all down to their level. These ridiculous, short-sighted radicals are poisoning the very waters in which they live.