Protestors again stop Telugu film screening in Telangana

February 8, 2010

Pro-Telangana activists Monday stopped screening of Telugu film "Adurs", starring Junior NTR, in several parts of Telangana region.

Protesting some remarks of film producer and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislator Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Naani, activists of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other pro-Telangana groups attacked theatres screening the film in six districts.

Protestors broke window panes and set afire posters and cut-outs of the actor at several places. They were protesting remarks made by Naani against the Telangana movement.

The TDP leader had remarked that TRS failed to stop screening of "Adurs" last month as Telangana movement lacked public support. He also claimed that only a few "unemployed" politicians want Telangana state. He also made some comments against TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao and his family members.

The producer's remarks evoked strong reaction from TRS and even his own party leaders in Telangana.

TRS legislator Harish Rao said their patience should not be misconstrued as their weakness and demanded apology from Naani. He also asked the Telugu film industry to condemn Naani's remarks.

TRS had last month disrupted the screening of the film at several places in Telangana region on the ground that the producers of the film were opposed to the demand for statehood to Telangana.

The boycott call was given by TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's daughter K. Kavita, president of Telangana Jagruthi, the cultural arm of TRS.

The boycott call was later withdrawn on the intervention by all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) and following a statement by Junior NTR and Movie Artistes' Association (MAA) that the artistes had no regional feelings.