ABOUT KANNADA FILMS

Located in the state of Karnataka with over 40 million people and 1200 cinema halls (in 1993), Kannada cinema was to a large extent under the shadow of the neighbouring Tamil and Telugu film industries for a long time. Unlike Assamese cinema, the vast majority of the films produced in Kannada are of the popular variety - sentimental, melodramatic, escapist, full of songs and dance. However, a few filmmakers are keen to create a serious cinema that addresses significant social issues.

Mohan Bhavanami, the Chief Producer of the Film Division of the Government of India, made the first Kannada silent film, Mricchakatika, in 1929. In 1932 came two talkies, Bhaktha Dhruva and Sati Sulochana. At first the theatre provided the inspiration and artistic resources for the filmmakers, but cinema evolved somewhat sporadically until the 1950s. There were several reasons for this: the absence of sponsorship, lack of adequate technical facilities and the contentment of the audiences with seeing Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. However, by the 1960s, the State Government decided to introduce subsidies for film production and to recognize good filmmaking by instituting an award system.

Samskara (Funeral Rites, 1970) by Telugu poet Pattabhi Rama Reddy has been discussed. A number of highly talented filmmakers followed Reddy: B.Y. Karanth, Girish Karnad, G.Y. Iyer and Girish Kasaravalli deserve special mention. Active reforms and influencing moments of truth are landmarks of the Kannada cinema. The mentioned Kannada film makers like Karanth, Karnad, Kanagal, Kasaravalli and Pattabhi Rama Reddy bequeathed powerful films that demand compassion and soul-searching.