Kiccha Sudeep: ‘The major challenge for the Kannada film industry is…’

As one of the main pillars of the Kannada film industry, superstar Kiccha Sudeep is acutely aware of the problems plaguing it currently. But the biggest problem these days, he reckons, is a scarcity of Kannada lovers.

Kiccha Sudeep: There is a lack of Kannada lovers

“The major challenge for the Kannada film industry is a lack of Kannada lovers. If you look at the entire state, wherever there are hardcore Kannada centres, all is well. But that’s not the case with cities, where there is a mix of people from all across the country. I am not against it. The issue is that the core business of Kannada cinema happens in cities and there are not enough people to sustain it. It is a perpetual fight that we have always been having against other languages. Our issues start there, and everything else is an extension of that,” says the actor.

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The solution, Sudeep reckons, is to leave all that aside and focus on what’s needed – concentrate on making films and doing so in the best possible manner. “There are also examples of people from other states watching Kannada cinema. So, the effort should be to make those kinds of films,” he adds.

Sudeep is currently in the midst of promoting his next release, Max, which hits theatres on December 25. The actor plays a cop called Arjun Mahakshay, who’s been nicknamed Max for the terror he has unleashed on those that have had a run-in with him. All set to return to duty after a suspension, Max is forced to take action, including brute force, to protect his station, colleagues and more.

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Initially announced as a pan-India film, Max will get Tamil and Telugu versions too, but those will release only on December 27. Sudeep has not dubbed for these versions of the film, although he’d started off at one point, but then gave up when the release got postponed.