Director Ram Gopal Varma has sent a legal notice to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA from Kurnool, SV Mohan Reddy, after the latter filed a complaint against the director for 'defaming' Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Mohan Reddy had filed the complaint after several TDP members protested against a song in RGV’s upcoming film Lakshmi’s NTR.
The song titled 'Vennupotu' talks about backstabbing, with many saying that it suggested that Naidu was responsible for TDP founder and former state Chief Minister NT Rama Rao. TDP members in their response, burnt photos and effigies of Ram Gopal Varma in front of the AP Film Chamber Hall in Vijayawada. They raised slogans against RGV, demanding that he pull down the song.
In his response, Ram Gopal Varma, represented by his lawyer, Prabhakar Sripada, served a notice to the MLA. “My client is a reputed film maker having produced over 50 movies in Telugu, Hindi and other languages. He won enjoys good reputation in his profession. He has made several movies with political themes including Sarkar, Raktacharitra etc which have been widely acclaimed by the public,” the notice reads.
“Your complaint is malicious and motivated. To start with, there is no defamation of anyone in the said teaser. It is not mentioning anybody by name and only showing various people who were involved in the incidents at that period of time which is public knowledge for more than two decades. Secondly, being a member of Legislative Assembly, you should be aware of the fact that defamation proceedings can only be initiated by the person who is said to have been defamed. Therefore, in the instant case, Chandrababu Naidu must initiate defamation proceedings and you have no locus standi to lodge a police complaint,” it added.
RGV’s lawyer also pointed out that by publicising the complaint in the media, Mohan Reddy also attempted to ‘tarnish’ the director’s image.
“My client therefore calls upon you to publicly apologise and withdraw your complaint within 48 hours of this legal notice, failing which, my client will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal action (both civil and criminal) against you,” the notice states.
Mr.S V Mohan Reddy Kurnool MLA should issue a public apology within 48 hrs regarding complaint involving Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Mr.N Chandra Babu Naidu failing which my advocate Mr.Prabhakar Sripada will initiate legal proceedings #LakshmisNTR pic.twitter.com/54CQWCpe48
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) December 26, 2018
Parvathi was the second wife of NTR. He married her in 1993, a few months before he returned to power with a landslide victory. However, NTR's son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu led an internal party coup and became Chief Minister in August 1995, citing Parvathi's growing interference in administration and party affairs.
NTR had launched a campaign against Naidu for 'backstabbing'. He died in January 1996 at the age of 72. Since then, Parvathi had been living in political oblivion, until 2014, when she joined the YSRCP.
There are two biopics of NTR currently in the making. While NTR’s son and actor-politician Balakrishna who is close to Naidu, is gearing up for one film and even released a teaser of the film recently, Ram Gopal Varma had announced that he would be making a biopic from Lakshmi Parvathi’s viewpoint and titled the film Lakshmi’s NTR.