Way back in 1965, the Karnataka Film Chamber had
passed a resolution that no film from other languages will be allowed to
have a dubbed release in the State. The ban has been strictly followed
to this day as the members felt that allowing dubbed films will make the
Kannada industry sick.
It was Kamal Haasan who, during the ‘Vishwaroopam’
release lodged a complaint with Competition Commission of India against
the Tamil Film Distributors for trying to disrupt the release planned
through DTH and the government body ruled in favor of Kamal. Taking a
cue from the Ulaganayagan a few producers in Karnataka have formed a new
Chamber for dubbed films and have sought the help of the CCI who have
slapped heavy fines on the Karnataka Film Chamber and Karnataka
Television Chamber for stopping individuals' rights to do legal business
and both the bodies have withdrawn the ban.
The first film to be dubbed in Karnataka after half a
century is Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Kochadaiyaan’ which will be
released in February. The new chamber chief Krishna Gowda stated that
they selected ‘Kochadaiyaan’ as the first dubbed movie due to the
presence of Rajinikanth and also the setting of the film, which will
suit the sensibilities of the people of Karnataka and also the
similarities in lip movements between Tamil and Kannada.
