Saturday Feb 23 2008, Bangalore

Baraguru Ramachandrappa resigns!

Well known writer and director Baraguru Ramachandrappa has resigned from the remake committee set up by the Government's Information department.The department had recently set up a committee headed by Baraguru Ramachandrappa to keep an eye on those who make remake and remix films and claim that the film is original and even apply for 100% tax-free certificates.These type of cases had increased gradually in the past one year.Films like Ee Bhandana, Gaja, Cheluvina Chittara and Krishna, which were remakes and remixes claimed as originals.Though the industry supported this action, a section of media opposed it.

In order to control, the Information department had set up a panel headed by Baraguru Ramachandrappa.But Baraguru has resigned from the committee saying that there are some confusions in the rules and regulations of the committee.'The committe has viewed some films which were referred by the information department.But those films were already viewed twice by some officials.Some of the films had also be given 100% tax free certificates.

Then what's the use in sending the same films to the committee.As there is no agenda or clear rules and regulations, I have resigned from the committee' says Baraguru Ramachandrappa.The setting up of such a committee was opposed from the beginning itself by a section in the film industry.Producers Association and some members of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce had opposed this action of the Government and said that the Government has not taken the film industry into consideration in setting up of this committee and a fair representation has not been given to the film industry.But yet the Information department proved too strong for the producers.

Now that Baraguru Ramachandrappa himself has resigned from the committee.Let's see what will be Government's next move?