Petition to cancel RGV film shooting permit filed

VIJAYAWADA: An advocate has petitioned the government to immediately cancel the permission given for the shooting of director Ram Gopal Verma's latest film `Bezawada Rowdeelu' here.
Naraharisetti Srihari, a staunch follower of local MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, took strong objection to the title of the film saying that it has hurt the sentiments of the locals.In a petition faxed to the CM, which was later submitted to city police commissioner Amit Garg, Srihari alleged that Verma was trying to rake up an unnecessary controversy in the city and cause law and order problems.
"The film, if allowed to continue its shooting, will create a lot of trouble in the city. Hence, permission granted for the shooting must be cancelled," he pleaded. He said Verma should be asked to alter the title and made to discuss the script with the locals before allowing him to go ahead with the film production.
Meanwhile, shooting of the film starring Naga Chaitanya, son of star hero Nagarjuna, is going on briskly in the city. Sources said Verma himself would release the title song of the film here on May 27.
The film `Bezawada Rowdeelu' is believed to have been based on the faction tussle between the local warlords __ Devineni Nehru and late legislator Vangaveeti Ranga. While two brothers of Nehru __ Gandhi and Murali __ were killed by their rivals, Ranga and his brother Radha lost their lives in the faction feuds. In addition, several of their followers were also killed when violence in the city was at its peak during the 1980s.
Apparently, Verma was studying engineering course at Siddartha Engineering College in the city during that period and Lagadapati Rajagopal was his classmate in the college.