The Karnataka state film awards for two years, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 were given away on Sunday evening at Dr.Ambedkar Bhavan in just one hour. Perhaps this is the first time the awards were given in a quick span of time even though the evening consumed three hours. There were no clippings arrangement and the winners were not allowed to express their happiness. There was lack of enthusiasm and required josh was missing.
The Karnataka Governor V.S.Rama Devi gave away the awards getting down from the dais for four times to vacate the stage for cultural program. She found it tough to cope up. It was visible clear. The Karnataka Chief Minister S.M.Krishna arrived with his wife Prema but preferred to sit along with the audience. He did not come even once to the stage.
The Karnataka Governor V.S.Rama Devi in her speech in Kannada expressed that film media has great potentiality and it could create a healthy society. The technological growth of Kannada cinema is improving is what I have noticed. This is a state of 7 Gnanapeetha award winners. Leave out films of violent and poor quality. I know the foreign influence is wide. But our culture, tradition and heritage are extraordinary. With the government facility given to Kannada films make use of it in shaping good quality films the Governor advised.
Rashtra Geethe in the beginning gave way for the awards presentation evening. The director of Karnataka Information department Dr.D.V.Guruprasad highlighted the special features of the awards evening in his inaugural speech. The Governor of the State and the Chief Minister arriving for a film function is for the first time. This is a two in one function as two years awards are given in a packed auditorium. The SIFCC President K.C.N.Chandrasekhar coming for State awards is also one more special occasion told the director in flawless Kannada.
The selection committee heads for two years film awards Smt.Jayamala and M.S.Sathyu coming on the stage and expressing their feelings is also for the first time. Sathyuji in his speech recalled the bad temper he encountered from losers of awards from the leaf of his experience pages. Sathyuji also felt the need of Cinema Academy in Karnataka in his speech.
The President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce Tallam N.Nanjunda Shetty expressed the need for introspection and called the film makers to bring back the 70’s golden era of Kannada cinema. There is a need to give subsidy for 35 to 40 films every year instead of 20 quality films Shetty urged the Government. He also appealed to the Karnataka Government to fix a definite day for presentation of awards. It could be either on Kannada Rajyotsava day or on Ugadi day Shetty felt.
Noted writer Jayanth Kaikini and actress Bhavana conducted the program. While Jayanth Kaikini was the right choice it cannot be said about Bhavana.
There were songs like Gajavadhana…, Car Car, Bang Bang Bangalore.., Arunodaya Chanda…, Arabiya Kadalu… to treat the audience.
The souvenir was released by Karnataka Governor on this occasion. The Karnataka Information Minister Shivanna also spoke on the occasion.