TRS targets Junior NTRs movie

Hyderabad, Jan 12 (IANS) Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) activists Tuesday attacked two cinema theatres here and destroyed hoardings of Telugu film "Adurs", featuring Junior NTR, even as the film industry appealed to Telangana parties not to disrupt the screening of films.

A day after TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's daughter K. Kavita called upon people to stop the screening of "Adurs", TRS workers attacked two theatres in Saroornagar area and damaged the film hoardings.

Films and film shootings of actors opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh are facing the ire of pro-Telangana groups. The groups last month stopped screening of films of actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi's son and nephew after he opposed statehood to Telangana.

Film shootings of the family members of Chiranjeevi and veteran actor Mohan Babu were also disrupted by protestors in and around Hyderabad.

Junior NTR's father N. Harikrishna, a leader of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and a member of the Rajya Sabha, is also opposed to bifurcation of the state.

Since the family of legendary actor and former chief minister N.T. Rama Rao comes from coastal Andhra region and stands for unified Andhra Pradesh, its members are facing protests in Telangana.

Junior NTR, the grandson of NTR, however, clarified late Monday that he was not opposed to any region. The popular actor appealed to people not to stop screening of "Adurs", which is set to hit the screens Wednesday.

"I am born and brought up in Hyderabad. I will not go to any other place. I will die here," he said referring to speculations that Telugu film industry was planning to shift to Chennai in view of Telangana agitation.

Meanwhile, the Movie Artistes' Association (MAA) met here Tuesday and appealed to people not to stop the screening of films. "We are only artists and belong to all regions. We have no political agenda," said MAA president Muralimohan.

MAA leaders said it was unfair to target the films of even those actors who have not said anything on Telangana issue.