Dubbed films now turn straight films

This weekend is witnessing the discharge of six Tamil films but one among them is definitely a dubbed film that have been occurred — and licensed — as a straight Tamil film. The film Rasagulla is definitely a Kannada movie (Nirdoshi) that was dubbed into Tamil but censored in Karnataka as a straight Tamil film! Meanwhile, next week will see the discharge of the Anushka-Bhoomika-starrer Thulli Ezhunthathu Kadhal, a dubbed version of the 2010 Telugu film Thakita Thakita, which has managed to get certified as a straight Tamil film by going for partial re-shoots.

Says film chronicler Film News Anandan, “In the early days, scenes was shot twice and actors who didn't know the language will mouth the Tamil dialogues so as to later be dubbed by a dubbing artist. However, over the years, producers began to opt for shortcuts by re-shooting some scenes with Tamil actors (this happened mostly with comedy tracks) and retaining the opposite shots as such and claiming their film as bilinguals. After they say that their film is a straight film when applying to the censor board, the board has no option but to certify it as a Tamil film.”

To be censored as a straight Tamil film, a producer has to get clearance certificates from either of the 3 trade bodies (producers’ council, film chamber or producers’ guild), the lab wherein the negative was developed, and the outdoor shooting units used for the shoot. However, industry insiders say that the majority producers be capable of use their influence and get the clearance certificates from these places despite the fact that their film is a dubbed one.

So, what makes producers to resort to such tactics? If a movie is certified as a dubbed one, it means lesser selection of screens, a lesser amount for satellite rights and compulsory entertainment tax. The truth that there aren’t any rules restricting such practices has only emboldened producers to take this route.

Such a convention is seen often mostly within the Tamil and Telugu film industries as a result of cultural similarity between the 2 states.

V Packirisamy, the regional censor board head, too feels the trade bodies should take the responsibility of ensuring that such misdemeanors don’t occur. “However, they are saying that they're obliged to supply the clearance certificate solely in response to the producer’s claim as they don’t see the film,” he quips.

He says that it's increasingly becoming difficult to spot dubbed films as filmmakers are actually capable of change the name boards and other region-specific properties within the frame using visual effects. “We aren't against dubbed films but only against those who claim to be straight films while being otherwise. But why should the taxpayer bear the brunt for the producer’s misinformation?” he asks.

While the censor board can’t take punitive action, Packirisamy says he have been taking a strict stance personally. “Recently, we had certified Vinayaka as a straight Tamil film but then received a complaint saying that it was a Telugu film which the makers had came about as a Tamil film by adding a comedy track featuring Santhanam. When the producer approached us later to get the film certified as ‘U’ for the house video (the theatrical release was rated U/A), we flatly refused or even sent a legal notice though we never got a reply from them,” he reveals. Anandan says that such misinformation is definitely a criminal offense and producers will even be arrested if the general public lodge a complaint with the police.

Dubbed films – Lesser collection of screens, lesser satellite rights, entertainment taxStraight films – Clearance certificates issued by producers’ council, film chamber or producers’ guild