Telangana activists go on rampage over satirical movie

Telangana activists Friday went on a rampage against a satirical film on state's politics, alleging that certain scenes belittled their movement. They ransacked the director's office in Banjara Hills and burned posters and film reels.

Though the film, Cameraman Ganga Tho Rambabu, starring Pawan Kalyan opened to good reviews Thursday, the situation changed the next day. Hundreds of students of Osmania University and Telangana Joint Action Committee attacked Aradhana theatre near the campus shouting slogans against the actor and the director.

They were joined by activists of YSR Congress and TDP who said the role of two characters in the film resembled late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu. It is alleged that some dialogues appeared to be directed at TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao and his son K T Rama Rao. Lead actor Pawan Kalyan is the brother of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, a Congress Rajya Sabha member.

Violent incidents were also reported from Warangal. Except in Hyderabad, screening of the movie was stopped across theatres in Telangana.

Director P Jagannath, in a bid to placate the agitators, said in a statement that objectionable scenes would be deleted. But the activists wanted a total ban on the movie in Telangana.

"It reveals the mindset of the directors hailing from Coastal Andhra district and their attitude towards Telangana,'' a statement of Telangana Students JAC said.

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