Kannada actors demand ban on dubbing other language films in Kannada

Kannada actors, led by politician Vatal Nagaraj, have demanded a ban on other language films being dubbed in Kannada. They claim that the practice affects the Kannada film industry and those working in it. 

Well-known Kannada film artists like Rangayana Raghu, Sai Prakash, V Manohar and P Ravi Shankar actively participated in the protest demonstration yesterday. While speaking to the media, V Manohar said, “The practice of dubbing will affect several families in Karnataka. Actors, technicians and even workers will not find work and such a practice should never be allowed to flourish here.” 

Nagaraj has termed the dubbing of other language films in Kannada as “anti-Kannada” and said that the protests would continue until the practice is not banned completely. 

Earlier this month, members from few pro-Kannada groups disrupted the screening of Ajith-starrer Satyadev IPS at a theatre in Hubballi. The film was a Kannada dubbed version of the Tamil film Yennai Arindhaal (2015). 

Karnataka is not the only state facing this issue. Last year, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) urged the producers of M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story to not release the Marathi version of the film as they felt it would affect the collections of Marathi films. 

Although the film was released in a few regional languages, the Marathi version did not see the light of day. However, the Marathi trailer was released earlier. The makers stated that the Marathi version couldn’t be released due to some problem. 

M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story Marathi trailer

Satyadev IPS trailer