Telugu film industry protests over attacks

The Telugu film industry has expressed anguish over attacks on film personalities at shooting spots near Hyderabad over the last few days.

The AP Film Chamber of Commerce, Producers Council, Hyderabad Film Chamber of Commerce, Movies Artists Association and AP Film Employees federation in a joint statement today said that film industry does not belong to any political party and the recent attacks would be are treated as attack on the film industry itself.

In a fresh incident, pro-Telangana activists set afire a film setting created for an unnamed movie with popular actor Mahesh in lead role near Vikarabad, 60 kilometers from here.

Police at Vikarabad said some activists set fire to the setting though no one was injured in the incident.

Angered by Chiranjeevi's united Andhra stand, some pro-Telangana activists yesterday attacked the crew of Varudu, a film in which his brother-in-law Allu Arjun is playing the lead role, at Hayatnagar on the outskirts of the city.

Two days ago, some agitators disrupted shooting of a film in which, actor Manoj, son of Mohan Babu, former Rajya Sabha member who supported United-Andhra movement, is playing lead role.

Lakhs of families depend on the industry, and we urge the government to provide security, the film unions said, adding the government should take steps to ensure such attacks are not repeated.