Saturday, December 04, 2004

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.

8 comments:

Harish said...

They still make Kannada movies?
Wait, yeah.. I remember. Isn't that where the 70 yr old dude goes to college and romances a heroine fit to be his grand-daughter?

Bangalore was already shifting towards DVDs. And this move jus drove the last nail into the coffin.

Shammi said...

Heehee... Kannada movies still stuck in the 50s-60s, with the 50-plus hero going to "college" and acting "young" (horrors)? :) At least they have genuine young people in Tamil and Hindi movies nowadays! (Or has Prabhu (of 'Chevalier' Sivaji descent) been seen going to college previously despite that portly paunch?)

Shammi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Sometime back MJAkbar wrote "Time is a tyrant; it demands change". Unfortunately, these chauvinists in Bangalore are seeking change, for the WORSE! At the crux of the issue is that these people in the Kannada Film Industry are just JEALOUS about the success of non-kannada films...read:Tamil Films. Even the most popular TV channel is owned by the Sun TV people fm Chennai. Most of the public sector employees who joined work in the PSU's of yore were people who came in from Tamil Nadu. Plus, what is driving change today in Bangalore is money from all over India - particularly 'Northies' who are elated by Blore's climate & cosmopolitan ethos and who are grabbing land/real estate by the site-ful. All this has led to much hand-wringing amgst the locals. One indication of this angst is being seen in the reaction of the film industry! Somebody tell me I'm wrong. :) Ravi

Shammi said...

You're absolutely right, Ravi...

I think the Kannadigas should go to TN or up north and become big successes and buy up real estate there, in revenge ;)

Anonymous said...

Shyam - I'm not happy that I'm right. What is sad is that even the 'common sense' folk among Kannadigas are quiet, as this bridge widens. Hope you've seen this link of mine from a previous post.
http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEV20041105055551&eTitle=Fo
Secondly, here's another link that should cause anxiety to all Bangalore lovers, from todays Sunday Express, Blore edition.
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=60231.
Perhaps, after 36 years in Bangalore, God really intended me to be in Chennai while my birthplace goes through this spasmodic upheaval? Who knows? :( Ravi

Shammi said...

Hi Ravi, yes, I saw the earlier link, and read the Sunday Express article as well. It's depressing is what it is. Imagine making all that progress and then losing the initiative in less time than it takes to say "sliding backward"! :(

Anonymous said...

Shyamala is a tamilian talking about banned non kannada movies in Bangalore. Ask yourself do you have right talk ???? You tamilians Banned Hindi (National Language)> I am a North Indian but I feel Bangalore people are 100000 times better than you Tamilians