Hindu groups protest screening of Telugu film 'Vinayakudu'

Hyderabad, Nov 22 (IANS) Activists of right-wing Hindu groups Saturday threw stones at a film theatre here to protest screening of Telugu film 'Vinayakudu', alleging its title had hurt the community's religious sentiments.

Activists of Bajrang Dal and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) resorted to violence at the Rajdhani theatre in Dilsukhnagar area in the city, where the film was being screened.

Police later took dozens of protesters in custody.

Protests were also held outside a few other theatres in the city screening the film, released Saturday.

Claiming that titling a film, based on a love story, 'Vinayakudu', was insulting to the Hindu deity Ganesha, also known as Vinayak, the groups also lodged a complaint with the police.

However, the film's director, A. Sai Kiran, clarified that he named the film 'Vinayakudu' as the hero was a good and lovable character. "I felt the title apt for the movie and did not intend to hurt anybody's sentiments," he said.