The Telangana Bill, which is due in December, 2013, will decide the fate of some movies of Hyderabad by Telegu stars Ram Charan, PawanKalyan and NTR Jr., because of the comments made by the family members of the stars regarding the bifurcation of the state. The release dates of PawanKalyan’sAtharintikiDaredi,Ram Charan’sThoofan and NTR Jr’sRamayyaVastavayya have all become uncertain. These big-banner movies were targeted because of the statements made by NTR’s father, Harikrishna, the actor-turned-politician, and Union Minister Chiranjeevi who is a family member of Charan as well as Kalyan. They suggested that Hyderabad should be made into a Union Territory.
Krishanth, who is the spokesperson of Osmania University Telangana Joint Action Committee (OUJAC), confirmed that a memorandum to stop the distribution of the movies in the region of Telengana has been submitted by them to the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCOC) as a protest against Harikrishna’s and Chiranjeevi’s lobbying against the formation of Telangana. Tollywood is the home of a huge number of films that are produced every year. The Telegu Film Industry reaps huge profit from the production and distribution of these movies. Since Telangana is the major revenue generator for the film industry, the upcoming Telegu movies have been stalled in this region, for an indefinite period of time.
Protesters supporting the Samaikhyandhra movements in Andhra have opposed the release of Kalyan-starrer, Doosukletha and Charan’s upcoming Yevadu.Political unrest which has prevalent in this region has jeopardized the future of other movies, too, like Priya Mani-starrer Chandee, Nagarjuna-starrer, Bhai.
With the release of the movies being postponed indefinitely, the livelihood of a large number of people is at stake. The protests by the enraged OUJAC have put to risk the work and remuneration of a large number of artistes who have worked hard in the cast and crew of the film units. Krishanth, however, shows no regrets as he feels that protesting is the right thing to do against the politicians for speaking unfairly against the cause that so many people have been fighting for.
Vijayender Reddy, president of TFCOC, confirmed that members of JAC, BJP, TRS and Congress support Telangana, and when consulted, they have suggested the release of the movies. Krishanth has ensured the protection of property of theatres as they are owned by Telangana. Telugu Film Producers Council’s president, BurugupalliSivaramkrishnahas expressed the hope for a positive outcome once the separate state is formed.