Director Ram Gopal Varma is back in the spotlight, and this time for a new controversy. On Saturday, Kurnool MLA SV Mohan Reddy filed a complaint against the director for “defaming” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu in the controversial song Vennupotu (backstabbing) from RGV’s upcoming film Lakshmi’s NTR.
The song suggests that Chandrababu Naidu backstabbed TDP founder Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao and rose to power. In the complaint to Kurnool II Town police, Mohan Reddy said, “The meaning of the song conveys as if our Chandrababu Naidu had plotted a conspiracy and back stabbed Ex. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (sic).”
Speaking to the media, Mohan Reddy said that RGV should be booked for defamation, and that a criminal case should be filed against him. He added that besides the director, other artists including the music composer, singers and lyricists should be booked for the objectionable song.
I am also going there to complaint against the complaint pic.twitter.com/sVD6AKiMgH
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) December 22, 2018
However, the police are yet to register an FIR based on Mohan Reddy’s complaint. The song, which was released on YouTube on Friday, offended TDP supporters.
On Saturday, several TDP members protested against the song by burning photos and effigies of Ram Gopal Varma in front of AP Film Chamber Hall. They raised slogans against RGV, demanding that he pull down the song. The agitated supporters alleged that the director has launched a smear campaign against their leader, Chandrababu Naidu, at the behest of the Lakshmi Parvathy, wife of late NTR, who is now part of TDP’s rival, the YSR Congress Party.
Undeterred by the threats and the complaints against him, the controversial director, who extensively uses social media, promoted the song on Twitter, saying that the protests have been counterproductive and have actually got the song more views.
Releasing the song on Twitter, he wrote, “I thank the music director and singer @kalyanimalik31 and lyricist @Sirasri for bringing to life the dead truths of backstabbing NTR."
Here is #LakshmisNTR # ..I thank the Music director and Singer @kalyanimalik31 and lyricist @Sirasri for bringing to life the dead truths of backstabbing
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) December 21, 2018
NTRhttps://t.co/2c0xUTzF3P
They are not angry..They are smiling and enjoying..Can I also join the party please#LakshmisNTR https://t.co/7NwOsLXdnm pic.twitter.com/MYJf7JhOuq
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) December 22, 2018
Lakshmi’s NTR is touted to be a biopic of the veteran actor and politician NTR. It was earlier objected by Lakshmi Parvathy, she felt that the film would show NTR and her marital relationship in a bad light and threatened legal action against RGV if he went ahead with the film.