BANGALORE: If the number of Kannada films released in 2010 is any indication, it seems that Sandalwood was busy with work.
Around 130 films were released. While 15 films brought cheers to producers, 10 films helped producers recover their investment and 20 film producers had to depend on satellite rights.
If the number of failures is anything to go by, it seems that Kannada film producers have lost more than `100 crore this year.
As many as 85 producers had to repent for making films since they had to pay for theatre rentals instead of recovering their investment.
The year began with the release of film Police Quarters directed by AMR Ramesh. Thirteen films were released in January but all the films, including Dr Vishnuvardhan's film School Master, were withdrawn from theatres soon after release.
Twelve films were released in February. Dr Vishnuvardhan's film Aaptha Rakshaka became a huge hit at the box office.
Nine films, including the film Just Pass, were released in March but none of them made a positive impact on the box office. April began with the release of Premism. Out of 11 films released in April, only one film - Prithvi - succeeded at the box office.
Nine films were released in May. Two films - Nannu Nanna Kanasu and Shankar IPS - brought cheers to producers.
Out of 11 films released in June, only two films were success. July witnessed maximum number of films released. Out of 20 films released, only two films became success. Eleven films were released in August but only two films were considered as success. Nine films hit the silver screen in September. Two films - Pancharangi and Appu Pappu - made cash registers ringing at the box office.
There was no difference in either number of films released or successful films in October. Again nine films were released in November but only one of them succeeded at the box office. Ten films were released in December. Only Super has been considered as successful film.
Some controversies
There was the tussle between Bharathi Vishnuvardhan and Dwarakeesh over the title of the latter's new film Vishnuvardhana.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce too hogged the lime light for wrong reasons. Its members tried to stop screening of Hindi films Kites and Raavan. They also protested against Tamil film's release at more than stipulated number of theatres.
The KFCC members had also tendered resignations en masse protesting president Basantkumar Patil's announcement of shutting the film industry.
There was also actor Raghuveer's alleged involvement in a sex racket at a lodge in Mysore.