Telangana stir stops T'wood releases

Telugu film industry is contemplating to stop all the movie releases this month due to the political unrest in the state.Telugu film industry producer's council which met on Wednesday following the attack on theatres screening Allu Arjun's Arya-2, RamCharan Teja's Magadheera and Manchu Mohan Babu and his sonVishnu's film ' Saleem' by Telangana agitators, has discussed the possibility of postponing all the movie releases to next month.


The Producers council will hold a meeting with exhibitors, distributors and other stake holders on Thursday to take a final decision on postponingthe movie releases.'Adurs' starring Junior NTR and 'Leader' starring Daggubati Rana aretwo big films slated to release this month. About 10 other smaller films are also ready for release before the end of this month. Sources confirmed that actor Mohan Babu who declared his support to 'United Andhra Pradesh' following which there have been attacks on theatres screening his film' Saleem' wants to stop screening the film too.

Theatres are expected to screen old popular movies, small budget and non Telugu films in theatres across the state till the end of this month.
"There is political unrest in the state and people are not coming to theatres to watch films. The collections have dropped drastically and it doesn't make sense to release movies in such turbulent times. Producers met today and decided not to release any films this month. There is yet another meeting with exhibitors and distributors on Thursday tofinalise the details" said Mr Vijandar Reddy, member, AP Film Chamber of commerce.


"This is a very sensitive issue. We haven't taken a final decision onpostponing the movie releases as yet. Its a business that involves crores of rupees and lots of efforts. A few producers have brought up the idea of postponing the releases as the situation in the state is tense. We will take the final decision on Thursday" said Mr Shyam Prasad Reddy, President, AP Film Producer's Council.


Meanwhile, actor Mohanbabu who pledged his support to United Andhra Pradesh has declared that he will go on hunger strike at Tirupati against the separation of the state."The attacks on theatres is the handiwork of some miscreants. I am for United Andhra Pradesh. I want the state to stay united. Attacks on theatres cause loss to a lot of people from all the regions in the state. I am now not with any political party and am going to sit on hunger strike at Tirupati for the United state cause" said Mohan Babu.

While many actors refused to comment on the attack on theatres fearing backlash from Telangana agitators, senior film makers claimed that they will not shift their base from Hyderabad though Telangana state isformed.
" It is foolish for agitators to attack the films of family members of Chiranjeevi and Mohanbabu just because they declared their stand. We are here to entertain people. We are not doing any anti social activity. Our movies are regional and I don't think anyone should have a problem with it. We will continue to operate from Hyderabad despite the formation of a separate state" said Mr Thammareddy Bharadwaja, senior Film maker.