Tollywood bigwigs to meet TRS chief KCR

Abadly bruised and battered Tollywood is mustering courage to pick up the threads in the New Year though conditions are as adverse as they have been in the last one month. Ironically, a fresh beginning is sought to be made in the Telangana region by releasing a film the title of which carries the name of United Andhra protagonist Chiranjeevi. On January 1, the film 'Maa Naana Chiranjeevi' is all set to be released in at least 22 theatres in Hyderabad. The film is directed by P A Arun Prasad, who had directed Chiranjeevi's brother Pawan Kalyan in 'Thammudu'. "It is indeed risky in the given circumstances but we have to face the situation," said Natti Kumar who has bought the distribution rights of the film starring Jagapathi Babu. Trying to leave behind the traumatic times of the last few weeks, another movie titled 'Yugalageetham' is also sought to be released on January 1. With Tollywood's big heroes out of action not having any releases so far this year, Hollywood films have become runway hits. Interestingly, all this comes in the midst of the Maoists' call for bandh on Jan 2 and Telangana protagonists' plan to hold a massive youth demonstration on Jan 3. Bigwigs of Toolywood are trying to meet TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao to explain how the industry as a whole was getting hit. "The issue is not about films of some people being disrupted. The larger issue is that thousands of people involved in the industry, including those in the Telangana region, are suffering," said V V Balakrishna Rao, president, A P Film Chamber of Commerce.