Bowing down to demands from various quarters, film producers Singanamala Rameshbabu and C Kalyan dropped the word 'Komaram' from their
latest film, and released it on Friday as just 'Puli'.
The change in the title was a result of objection to the 'Komaram Puli' title by Komaram Sony Rao, grandson of the tribal legend Komaram Bheem, and also by a section of Telangana Joint Action Committee activists who called for a boycott of the Pawan Kalyan starrer.
The producers told media persons that the decision to drop 'Komaram' from the film title was taken in deference to the sentiments of Telangana people.
The producers also announced that the film has been renamed as 'Puli'. This announcement apparently did not satisfy the TJAC, who said that their call for a boycott of the film remained in place till the producers dropped the word 'Komaram' from the entire movie.
Meanwhile, an exasperated Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi said that the call for a boycott was "blackmail". He said, "some sections of the Telangana protagonists are resorting to blackmailing tactics."
Chiranjeevi also questioned the authority of the TJAC, which he said is taking law in its hands.
Apprehending trouble, the managements of 2 theatres on the outskirts of the city announced that they have decided to stop the screening of the premier show of the film. The morning and afternoon shows were also called off.
Meanwhile, the Telangana activists' boycott call had some response in Suryapet, Palwancha, Kotthagudem, Medak, Nalgonda and Warangal districts, where activists burnt posters of the film and damaged some theatres which were set to screen the film.
The activists demanded Chiranjeevi's apology for using the word 'Komaram' in the film. They also threatened to boycott movies of actors Balakrishna and Mohanbabu in the Telangana region. The actors are known for their opposition to the formation of a separate Telangana state.
The Pawan Kalyan starrer was planned to hit the screens with a whopping 600 prints in over 1,000 screens, on Friday.
Nikisha Patel plays the female lead in the film. The film is directed by S J Suryah, and the music has been composed by A R Rahman, with lyrics by Chandrabose.
Courtesy: INN