None of the five members, who watched the film ‘Paarane’ to certify, knew Kodava language

Mysuru:

Kodava film ‘Paarane’ that has been screened in several National and International Film Festivals cannot be screened in the upcoming Bengaluru International Film Festival. Reason: Regional Office of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has rejected certification for the movie because the members who watched it did not like the colour grading and the long-duration shots in it.

Shockingly, none of the people at CBFC who watched the movie knew Kodava language, which is crucial to make a decision of issuing certification! Now, forget Bengaluru International Film Fest, the movie-makers cannot even apply for National Film Awards without a CBFC certificate.

‘Paarane’, directed by Shreelesh S. Nair, tells the story of struggle by people from a village named Paarane for their existence and entity. Encroachers attack and try to destroy their native natural resources in the name of business. Realising this, the protagonists revolt against the invaders. The high-point of the film is that it is made on a shoestring budget of merely Rs. 3 lakh, as claimed by the Director. None of the actors were professionally into films and it introduces many new actors. Its duration is 1 hour and 32 minutes.

Nair, who is from Kerala and currently a resident of Bengaluru, said that the movie cast people from Paarane village and filmed around Kodagu district with sync sound. ‘Paarane’ has won the Certificate of Achievement at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival. The film also participated in the Kolkata International Film Festival and has been selected for the Golden Grand Film Festival, Redwood Film Festival and Eurasian Film Festival.

“A Kodava language film making it to film festivals, which is first time in India, has definitely excited the team. It has been nominated at Indonesia Film Festival and a small festival to be held in Berlin,” Nair said.

Tasting success at International level, Nair approached CBFC’s Regional Office in Bengaluru for certification. “None of the five members, including the Regional Officer, who watched ‘Paarane’ knew Kodava language. The film has only 11 shots in it and the CBFC objected to it. I was asked why there were no close-up shots of actors,” Nair said.

“Shockingly, a CBFC official who objected to the colour grading, said why was Coorg not looking beautiful and I told him that was the way I have made the film. The official insisted that he has rules to follow and cannot certify any film and I told him to please show me the rule book. Only if rules are made public filmmakers can know what kind of films CBFC object to,” Nair said.

Nair, who took objection to the way he was treated at Regional Office of CBFC, was told to go to court or appeal to CBFC head office in Mumbai. And for that he needs Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000. “I made the movie in a small budget of Rs. 3 lakh and I don’t have the resources for the appeal and to go to the court,” he said.

Advocates who are in the know of CBFC guidelines said that the CBFC can reject a scene when it is vulgar, if it provokes communal tensions or threatens to damage the sovereignty or integrity of India or extremely and unnecessarily violent.

The CBFC does not have powers to reject certification on a movie’s total length or dull colour as it amounts to denying freedom of expression of the film-maker, lawyers said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 28th, 2018

The 13th Kodagu district Kannada literary meet will be organised at government PU College premises in Napoklu on December 22 and 23, said Kannada Sahitya Parishat district president B S Lokesh Sagar.

He told reporters here on Thursday that Madikeri tahsildar Kusuma will hoist the National flag at 8 am on December 22. Napoklu gram panchayat president K M Ismail will hoist the Kannada flag.

Exhibition stalls will be inaugurated by CMC president Kaveramma Somanna at 11 am.

The formal inaugural programme will be held at Jagadatmanada G Maharaj Sabhangana at 11.30 am. Zilla panchayat vice president Lokeshwari Gopal will inaugurate the programme.

The main stage, ‘Mahabaleshwara Bhat Pradhana Vedike’ will be inaugurated by zilla panchayat president B A Harish. Kannada Sahitya Parishat state president Dr Manu Baligar will inaugurate the literary convention.

Bharadwaj K Anand Theertha will preside over the literary convention. MLA K G Bopaiah, MLC Sunil Subramani and MLC Veena Acchaiah will take part. Cultural programmes will be inaugurated by social worker Sanket Poovaiah.

ZP member Latif will inaugurate Janapadotsava at 9.30 am on December 23.

An open forum will be held at 2.30 pm. The valedictory programme will be held at 4 pm, said B S Lokesh Sagar and added that various literary events will be held on both the days.

Kannada Sahitya Parishat district honourary secretary K S Ramesh, taluk president Kudekal Santhosh and office bearer Kodi Chandrashekhar were present in the press meet.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by Adithya KA / DH News Service / Madikeri – December 20th, 2018

Christians celebrated Christmas with pomp and gaiety in Kodagu district.

Special prayers were offered in the churches at Somwarpet, Virajpet, Kushalnagar and Gonikoppa on the pious occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Tiny tots dressed as Santa Claus visited houses and exchanged Christmas wishes. Members of the houses they visited distributed cakes to the children.

Churches were specially decked up for Christmas and the houses were beautified with Christmas trees and lights. People recited the Bible and sang carol songs.

Christmas cakes were cut and various dishes were prepared in the houses. Magnificent cakes were on display in the bakeries.

Beautiful cribs were prepared at St Micheal’s Church and CSI Shanti Church in Madikeri.

The crib at St Micheal’s church was witnessed by many people from Monday night.

In Virajpet, Christmas mass and special prayers were held at St Annamma’s Church which has a history of two centuries.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by Adithya K A / DH News Service / Madikeri – December 25th, 2018

Champa Shashti, devoted to Lord Subrahmanya, was celebrated with pomp and gaiety across the district.

Special prayers were offered at Muttappa temple and Omkareshwara temple in Madikeri. Temples were decorated with flowers and buntings on the occasion.

A beeline of devotees was found in Omkareshwara temple. ‘Teppotsava’ and a palanquin procession were held in the evening.

Ablutions were offered to the serpent God at Sri Kote Mariyamma temple as well.

In Kushalnagar

On the occasion of Champa Shashti celebrations, car festival and a special puja were performed at Sri Udbhava Subrahmanya Swami temple in Koodige village in Kushalnagar on Thursday.

Ablusions, ‘Mahapuje’ and ‘Mahamangalarathi’ were held in the temple in the morning. ‘Digbali’, ‘Rathabali’ and ‘Rathapuje’ were held prior to the car festival.

Thousands of people from the district along with those from Mysuru and Hassan took part in a grand car festival.

People belonging to Koodumangaluru community pulled the car from the temple premises till Koodumangaluru Community Hall.

Cultural troupes of ‘Veeragase’, ‘Garudi Gombe Kunitha’, ‘Keelu Kudure’, ‘Somana Kunitha’ and ‘Chende Vadya’ were part of the 50th annual car festival of the temple.

Devotees offered serpent hoods made out of silver to the deity at the temple, in fulfilment of their vows.

Special rituals were also held in Someshwara temple in Somwarpet and Beeralingeshwara Gramadevathe Sannidhi in Shanivarasanthe. Devotees offered milk and tender coconut water to Lord Subrahmanya.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Districts / by Adithya K A / DH News Service / Madikeri – December 13th, 2018