The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressing the mammoth attendance at the inaugural of the prestigious 9th Bengaluru International Film Festival on Thursday night after Naada Geethe and a spectacular Video Mapping presentation disclosed that quality in films is essential. It is the only answer to get more shares in screens. Kannadigas should further develop habit of watching Kannada films first and other languages later. We are not against to any language films he emphasized. The Karnataka government has given what is asked by the cinema industry and it is up to them to give quality films. In the earlier days there were very few actors and technicians, they are outnumbered today. In my college days I had seen Bangarada Manushya` five times. The impact of that film was such that people settled somewhere came back to cultivation profession.

The chief Minister Siddaramaiah was in mood to speak as he had not attended any program for the whole day. He had good energy. He remembered the names of top heroes and heroines. They were seen again and again in Kannada films. The content was also very good. We produce more than 175 Kannada films a year and not many are quality conscious he stated. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah remembered watching Thithi` at his friend Mahadev Prasad (who is no more) residence. Such films with reality mixed with fun are good entertainers. There was message also in the film pointed the chief minister.

On the demand put forth by SV Rajendra Singh Babu KCA Chairman and KFCC President Sa Ra Govindu, the chief minister promised to hold a meeting on the ticket price structure in Multiplex screens.

Earlier to Karnataka Chief Minister speech KCA Chairman SV Rajendra Singh Babu said the Multiplex are like villains today to Kannada cinema progress. The speeches of Singh Babu and Sa Ra Govindu were used for explaining the woes at the international film festival inaugural.

Karnataka legislative council chairman DS Shankara Murthy released the souvenir on this occasion. Actress Radhika Chetan brought the light to mark the lighting of the lamp.

Power star Puneeth Rajakumar thanking for an opportunity to stand in front of Vidhana Soudha to address at the 9th Bengaluru International film festival stated that is Nammura Utsava`. He remembered his childhood days of attending film festivals after Bettada Hoovu that got him best child actor at the national level. The film of director N Lakshminarayan took me to seven other festivals he said. It was very young age and opportunity was huge to learn about other language films. This kind of festival is essential because we get to know so many things from so many countries films. Kannada cinema industry has grown good. In this festival there are 40 films to watch. Looking at various films we go on learning he pointed.

The top actors Suhasini Manirathnam (with a few Kannada words) and Ramesh Aravind (with a few English words) conducted the show.

Bengaluru development minister KJ George, Kannada and culture minister Umasri, MLA and KFPA President Munirathna Naidu, Egyptian film maker Hal Khaleela, Information director NR Vishukumar, Principal Secretary Lakshminarayan and others were present on the dais.