Bangalore: No end seems to be in sight for the tussle between the producers of Kannada films and exhibitors who are on the warpath over simultaneous release of non-Kannada films, with talks between the theatre owners and Chief Minister N Dharam Singh ending in a failure today (Oct 14, 2004).

Though the Chief Minister requested the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation not to precipitate the matter and avoid release of non-Kannada films till October 18, the Federation refused to give any commitment.

Even as the meeting took place, theatres all over Karnataka were closed today in protest against the attack on three cinema halls in Bangalore last week allegedly by Kannada activists for defying a seven-week moratorium on release of non-Kannada films imposed by the Kannada film industry.

Emerging out of the meeting, Singh told reporters in Bangalore he has asked the Exhibitors' Federation to put on hold release of non-Kannada films tomorrow (Oct 15, 2004), as the issue has generated vociferous protest from those leading the movement for a seven-week moratorium on release of non-Kannada films.

Singh said a decision was expected to emerge at the meeting to be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on October 18.

The Exhibitors' Federation President OoduGouder later speaking to the press expressed his inability to commit himself on putting on hold non-Kannada films release slated for tomorrow as preparations had already been made.

Mega Telugu star, Chiranjeevi's film "Shankar Dada MBBS" is set to hit silver screen in parts of North Karnataka region tomorrow, where the exhibitors have defied the ban.