PremiumAvatar 2 makers heed call for #Avatar2inKannada; dub film in Kannada
Netizens thrilled but say that the makers also have to ensure that the local distributor ensures ample number of shows at good time slots and locations.
Last Updated: 11.56 AM, Nov 11, 2022
A week ago, Kannada film audiences were literally up in arms when posters and trailers of the much-awaited Avatar 2 – The Way of Water did not mention a Kannada version in its proposed December 16 pan-India release. Soon enough #Avatar 2 was trending in Karnataka on social media, with #Avatar2inKannada hashtags, among others. Well, it seems that the makers did pay attention to the brouhaha on social media after all.
As of yesterday, the studio, 20thCentury Studios India confirmed that the James Cameron film will indeed have a Kannada version, tweeting the dubbed trailer and a message that welcomed Kannadiga audiences back to Pandora.
Producer Jon Landau responded to this, tweeting, “Namaste India! I see you. Your diversity continues to amaze me. I am so excited for you to experience #AvatarTheWayOfWater in 6 languages - English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Let's celebrate the return to Pandora on 16th Dec. Please enjoy the Kannada trailer.”
Replying to him, some fans wrote, “Thanks for upholding Indian diversity....Films are not bounded to one language, region or nation ... It is universal experience which is required to b adopted to the viewers in their comfort language to understand & appreciate the work..Thanks a lot for #DubbinginKannada”,
The development, of course, has fans beyond thrilled, but they remain a tad sceptical considering that Kannada dubbed versions of major releases have, in the past, received limited screens in the state. Until the film is given a decent number of shows in Kannada at good time slots and locations, it is too early to celebrate, they reckon.
“Kannada dub version local sub distributors wont releasing at Karnataka State” wrote one, while another added, “Also please ensure that kannada version is released in maximum theaters in Karnataka.” A third wrote, “We must make sure that Kannada gets highest space for this release in Bangalore, else there is no point getting this content in Kannada.”