For Tolly bosses,all roads lead to TRS - Several Biggies Seek TRS President K Chandrasekhar Raos Protection Of Land Allotted By Previous Governments

Virtually conceding that TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao calls the shots in Telangana region, big wigs of Tollywood are making a beeline to meet him and extract an assurance that the projects they are planning on government land allotted to them over the years will not be disrupted or opposed by his party. Those who have called on him during the last few days or spoken to him over phone or through intermediaries include film actor Nagarjuna,producer K Raghavendra Rao,veteran actor G Krishna, studios owner L V Prasad and comedian-turned-producer Ganesh. All of them were allotted prime land by the state government during the last three decades with the idea of encouraging Tollywood to shift from Chennai and set up base in Hyderabad.However,many of them did not utilise the land for the purpose for which it was allotted or have kept it idle.

Since Telangana movement picking the steam over the last many months,the TRS has been targeting several Tollywood bigwigs,charging that the land which was allotted to them should be taken back by the state and given back to the farmers. The latest trigger for the Tollywood bigwigs to call on KCR was the recent incident at the land owned by actor Srikanth in Ranga Reddy district,where Congress and TRS flags sprang up last week.Apprehending that they too will be targeted next,these big names have decided to make moves of appeasement of the TRS leadership,said sources. Calling on KCR at the latters residence two days ago,film hero Nagarjuna sought the TRS chief s cooperation to establish multiplex including big malls and cinema theatres at Annapurna studios located at Banjara Hills areas.Annapurna Studios had been allotted 22 acres of prime land as part of the campaign to promote the film industry in the early 1980s.

The state government had recently allowed construction of a multiplex in the studio premises.The TRS had raised a hue and cry over it on the grounds that it was against the agreement signed between state Govt. and land owners. Nagarjuna came to KCRs house and invited him to attend a private function being organised by him. During the interaction between the duo,issue of construction of multiplex came up and Nagarjuna requested KCR not to raise any objections to the coming up of the multiplex, said a close confidant of KCR. What was the TRS chief s reply However,he did not elaborate. Film producer Raghavendra Rao also approached the TRS through KCRs colleague MP and film star of yesteryears Vijayashanti recently.Sources said he explained to her the objections that were being raised by the TRS over the multiplex that has been constructed on Banjara Hills Road number 2.The state government had allotted one acre of land at a very cheap rate to Raghavendra Rao in 1985 to set up an audio recording studio. However,in violation of the agreement,Rao constructed a multiplex two years ago.This was challenged in the high court by TRS senior leader T Harish Rao following which the state government issued a show cause notice to the producer for violating the agreement. Now,Raghavendra Rao wants to solve the issue amicably by placating the TRS,and accordingly,met Vijayashanti.In fact,Raghavendra Rao and Vijayashanthi maintained close relations during the 1990s when she acted in several of his films.Their relationship soured after she entered politics and floated the Talli Telangana party in 2005.Sources said Vijayashanti told Rao that she will talk to TRS chief and see whether any amicable solution could be found.

Krishna,another veteran hero who owns Padmalaya Studios,and his family members also reached across to the TRS recently,the sources said.They called up Vijayashanti over telephone and sought her help to resolve the land row, the sources said. In Krishnas case,the state had allotted 9.5 acres of land at a very cheap rate in 1985 to set up Padmalaya Studios.However,because of Krishnas Congress ties,former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy reportedly relaxed the rules and allowed them to sell the land to a third party.However,with the issue dragged to the high court,the latter has given a directive that no permanent structure should come up on Padmalaya Studios until further orders. Representatives of Anand cine service owned by LV Prasad also met Vijayashanti and Harish Rao some time back and urged them to resolve the land issue.In their case,in 2002,5 acres of land was allocated to the company for vehicle parking purpose at Banjara Hills.When the company tried to sell the land,the TRS approached the court and secured a stay order.

According to sources,other Tollywood personalities like Ganesh (comedian turned film producer) and MS Raju are also making moves through intermediaries to meet KCR shortly to discuss film development activities in the Telangana region.After their initial opposition to the TRS,Tollywood bigwigs have realised that if they need to protect their interests in the Telangana region,KCR is the man to talk to.Hence,the extension of the olive branch, said the sources.
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Those who have called on him during the last few days or spoken to him over phone or through intermediaries include film actor Nagarjuna,producer K Raghavendra Rao,veteran actor G Krishna,studios owner L V Prasad and comedian-turned-producer Ganesh.All of them got land from the govt in the last 30 years for various projects with the idea to help Tollywood shift base from Chennai to Hyderabad
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(source-toi)