Artists to rally in Bangalore for Chaplin statue

Bangalore, March 19 (IANS) Artists and writers are planning a demonstration here Friday to counter objections raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers against erecting a statue of Charlie Chaplin for a movie by director Hemanth Hegde.

Saahithi Kalaavidhara Balaga, an organisation of writers and artists, has organised the demonstration in front of Mahathma Gandhi's statue on M.G. Road at 4.30 p.m. Friday.

BJP workers, led by Suresh Bantadi, last Friday stopped Hegde from erecting a 62-ft statue of the legendary comedian in Ottinale beach in Udupi, about 400 km from here, arguing that Chaplin was a Christian. The statue was to be shot for Hegde's film "House Full".

Those likely to participate in the demonstration include Jnanpith awardee U.R. Anantha Murthy, film directors Girish Kasaravalli, Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, P. Sheshadri and actors Daththanna and Lokanath, said B. Suresha, an eminent actor-director.

Suresha is shocked by the BJP objections.

"The incident has led us to believe that the Sangh Parivar has a different yardstick to assess and recognise the achievements of the artists. This is totally unacceptable."