Tulu Film Producers’ Association set for election on December 24

MANGALURU: The Tulu Film Producers’ Association is all set to duly elect its maiden set of office bearers at the Don Bosco Hall on December 24. Representing myriad interests of producers and co-producers of the fledgling Coastalwood – home to Tulu film industry, the association is presently carrying out its business with an ad hoc body headed by senior film producer T A Srinivas that was set up following a meeting at Tulu Bhavan here on June 12.

K S N Rajesh, advocate and election officer said the election will be held for the posts of president, vice-presidents, secretary, joint secretaries, treasurer and executive committee. There are two aspirants for the post of president, five for three posts of vice-presidents, two for the lone post of secretary and treasurer respectively, and four aspirants for three posts of joint secretaries. Likewise, there are 13 aspirants to make up the nine-member executive committee.

Rajesh said with four aspirants dropping out from the race, there are 28 contestants for 18 posts in the association. There are total of 52 members eligible to vote as on date, he said adding with efforts on to increase the voter’s base, the final numbers will be clear only on the election day. Only those who have produced/co-produced a Tulu film are eligible to be members of the association and contest the elections, Rajesh said and added that the election process is underway.

The post of president, secretary and treasurer is exclusively reserved for a Tulu film producer, while both producers and co-producers may contest for the remaining posts, he said. Producers who have obtained a certificate from CBFC too are eligible to contest, even if their film is yet to be released, he said. Given that the electoral college is small, the results could well be announced by 6pm, he said.

Srinivas said he opted to head the body till such time that a duly elected body was put in place and the association felt that a democratically elected body was better suited to address issues and concerns that plague the producers. Some of the issues are that not every producer is getting subsidy, getting assured and expanded market for the regional language film, he said.