BANGALURU :The Kannada film industry, which has been quiet on the topic of movie posters adorning the walls of the city, has now shown its willingness to negotiate for specifically allotted places.
For several years now, the sticking of film posters in public spaces has been banned under the Karnataka Open Place Disfigurement Act. However, enforcement of this ban has been sporadic. It is an arrangement that has suited the film industry well.
Producers of medium and small budget movies cannot afford the rates charged for private or BBMP hoardings and spaces and hoardings in certain zones can only be afforded by a handful of big names.
In the face of opposition to posters, which according to many have been defacing public spaces, and in an effort to improve the image of the city, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has shown its willingness to put up posters in specific places as agreed with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
President of KFCC Sa Ra Govindu said that though the reluctant enforcement of the ban on film posters had made it easier for them to put up posters everywhere over the last decade, they wanted to settle the issue.
“We do understand the problems associated with defacing the walls and we also want to contribute towards keeping the city clean. We are willing to work with the BBMP in identifying specific places in core as well as outer areas where we can display the posters,” he said.
While the rates charged by the BBMP are not affordable for many producers, he said, “We will request them to offer us a discount.”
According to film distributor Basha, putting up film posters in what is called ‘impact places’ leads directly to a 10-15 per cent increase in box office collection.
For a movie with an average budget, the cost of putting up posters alone comes up to about `5 lakh. Apart from this, money is also spent on hoardings which are sometimes prohibitively expensive.
The BBMP categorises areas into A, B and C and such zones for pricing depending on the area. Hoardings in the A zone are so expensive that not even the big banners in Kannada film industry are willing to go for them. “For us, it will be easier if places are identified in impact areas where we can put up posters. We have so far not held any official talks, but unofficially yes, this has been conveyed to the BBMP,” Basha said.
Mayor Manjunath Reddy, who held a meeting with BBMP officials with regard to indiscriminate sticking of posters and illegal hoardings three days ago, said he had directed the officials to take up a drive to impose fines.
“The posters have been a nuisance. It is heartening to note that the film industry has come forward to talk to us. I will call for a meeting immediately,” he said.