Bangalore: A six-member sub-committee headed by former President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), M Bhaktavatsala has been constituted to sort out the problems faced by the Kannada film industry, the newly elected President of KFCC, H D Gangaraj said in Bangalore today (Sep 27, 2004).

"My first priority is to solve the problems facing the Kannada film industry and then work towards improving the infrastructural facilities", he told sources after assuming charge as new President of KFCC on Saturday (Sep 25, 2004).

Expressing his desire to accommodate all sections of the industry - producers, exhibitors and distributors - Gangaraj said, the sub-committee which has representatives from these sectors will meet in Bangalore tomorrow (Sep 28, 2004) to discuss the problems faced by the Kannada film industry and also the embargo on it by Bollywood and South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, he said.

"This will be followed by another three meetings of these various sectors on Oct 2, 2004 after which a final decision will be taken," he said.

Even as a solution is being worked to resolve the crisis which snowballed after the Kannada film industry's decision to impose seven-week moratorium on release of non-Kannada films, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation has decided to release all other language films in the State from Oct 1.

"While a decision had been taken not to release any new films whether Kannada or non-Kannada, it was relaxed on Sep 18, 2004 with the release of Kannada film "Omkara", this is further being extended to all new non-Kannada films which will be released throughout the State from Oct 1", the Federation President R R Ooudugowdar said.

The Kannada film industry led by its icon Rajkumar held a protest rally last month demanding protection of the local film industry against the "onslaught" of other language films.

Besides seeking a seven-week moratorium on release of non-Kannada movies, they also sought to re-impose the 70 per cent entertainment tax on other language movies.

Protesting against this move, the exhibitors decided to close shop and over 68 theatres in Bangalore downed shutter till the imbroglio was solved.

The standoff sent ripples across the State with a Bollywood delegation seeking Prime Minister Manmohan's intervention to resolve the tangle.