The Kannada version of Hollywood movie, Fast and Furious-8, is slated for release after the Karnataka High Court and Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruled that there can be no restrictions on the screening of films dubbed from other languages into Kannada.
Titled Vega Mattu Udvega 8, this movie was scheduled to hit the silver screens on Friday. However, the release was postponed to next week as the distributors could not get enough number of theatres this week, Times of India reported.
Distributors said that the film requires theatres with 2K projectors for screening. There are 75 theatres with 2K projectors in Bengaluru, of which distributors could get only three.
Ganesh-starrer Mugulunage will release on Friday in more than 500 theatres across the state. Distributors said that it would not make for a sound business decision if Vega Mattu Udvega 8 is screened only in a handful of theatres. Hence, the release was postponed, the report adds.
The Kannada film industry had resisted the idea of dubbing for close to five decades and has finally swallowed the bitter pill of acceptance.
“We cannot go against the Karnataka High Court’s Verdict. Dubbed movies are a reality. It is up to the people to accept or reject it,” said Sa Ra Govindu, President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC).
He said that Kannada film industry bodies, including the film chamber, was not in a position to oppose the dubbed films now.
The case in favour of dubbed films became stronger when the CCI issued notices last week to Govindu, Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj and Kannada film actor and BJP leader Jaggesh for obstructing the release of dubbed films.
The trio was charged with inciting violence to stop the release of Tamil film Ennai Arindal in March this year, which was dubbed into Kannada as Satyadev IPS. They have been asked to appear with their explanations before the CCI on September 12.
Last year, while disposing of a petition filed by Kannada Graahakara Koota, the CCI had said that the ban on dubbed films was anti-competition and, hence, illegal.
“We had sought an order from the CCI in favour of dubbed movies and the commission ruled in our favour,” said Arun Javagal, Kannada Graahakara Koota President said.
However, the KFCC had moved the Karnataka High Court seeking a stay on the CCI proceedings in the case. The HC dismissed the film chamber's petition.
“The verdicts from both the CCI and the high court have restricted the anti-dubbing agenda. If we go against them, then it amounts to contempt of court,” Govindu said.
Vatal Nagaraj said that he would continue opposing the dubbed movies. “The industry cannot go against the verdict but I can as an individual. Many individuals and organizations are with me on this,” he added.
Dubbed Kannada movies were seen as a threat to local culture, and the resistance was started by Kannada writers AN Krishna Rao and Ma Ramamurthy in 1960s. These writers had mobilised public opinion in their favour and in 1962, the Kannada film industry imposed an internal ban on other language movies dubbed into Kannada.
Maya Bazaar, a Telugu cult film dubbed to Kannada, was the last dubbed movie released in the state.