BANGALORE: The Karnataka chief minister has requested the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF) to refrain from defying the seven-week moratorium on the release of non-Kannada films, till 18 October. KFEF president Odugouder told Indiantelevision.com that the CM had asked deputy CM Sidharamaiah to look into the matter.

Commending on the recent attacks on the theaters in Bangalore he said, "The CM has let them off once, but if they repeat this I don't think they would be condoned. Only muscle power will not work in a democracy, we are hopeful for solution that will be agreeable to all."

Cinema Exhibitors expressed solidarity with almost 800 of the 1100 theaters in Karnataka participating In the state-wide one day theater strike protesting the recent attacks on theatres which screened non-Kannada films.

In the meantime, a Telugu group has decried the happenings in Kannada filmdom, saying that though more than 35 per cent of the state's population was Telugu-speaking, their views were not being considered in the matter.