Ram Gopal Varma’s Telugu film "Vangaveeti" which released on Friday has landed in controversy with protests erupting in Vijayawada against the movie.

"Vangaveeti" is said to be the biopic of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, a leader of the Congress party, who belonged to the Kapu community, and was murdered in 1988 when he was on a hunger strike. The murder set off unprecedented violence in Vijayawada and other parts of the Krishna district as well as neighbouring ones.

Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, son of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, met the Director General of Police N Sambasivarao and made his objections with the movie.

The film has been facing controversy from the date of its announcement. The Radha Ranga Mitra Mandali, followers of Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, had also warned of consequences if the film goes against their sentiments.

On Friday, they protested and raised slogans at Y Screens multiplex located in Pundit Nehru Bus Station against Varma, demanding the withdrawal of the title of the movie and alleging that it does not reflect facts.

The followers also staged a protest at Santosh theatre in Ajith Singh Nagar.

However, police later handled the mobs at both the places.

Mr. Chandana Suresh, a close aide of Vangaveeti Radha Krishna, told Deccan Chronicle that "the movie is filled with half truths and does not depict the character of Mohana Ranga. Projecting Ranga as a rowdy ignoring all the good work he has done is objectionable and we object the way the character of Ratnakumari (his wife) is shown in the film.”

He also mentioned that they will approach the court.

In the meantime, former MLA Malladi Vishnu, who is closely associated with the Vangaveeti family, accused the movie to be a publicity stunt by the director.