‘Was note really written by Ashok Kumar?’ Anbu Chezhiyan’s company denies allegations

While Gopuram Films has claimed that they had no dealings with Ashok Kumar, sources say he was distressed by Anbu blocking Sasikumar’s upcoming film.
‘Was note really written by Ashok Kumar?’ Anbu Chezhiyan’s company denies allegations
‘Was note really written by Ashok Kumar?’ Anbu Chezhiyan’s company denies allegations
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“In today’s papers, there is a news report about Ashok Kumar’s suicide. The reports talk about a suicide note that he had purportedly written. But was the note actually written by him?” These are the opening lines of a press statement released by Gopuram Films. Gopuram is the company of Anbu Chezhiyan, named in the suicide note purportedly written by director Sasikumar’s cousin and associate, Ashok Kumar, who killed himself on Tuesday night.

And from beginning to end, the statement by Anbu Chezhiyan’s company takes a self righteous and defiant tone, as it denies that the company had any dealings with the deceased.

“Ashok Kumar is Sasikumar’s assistant. We have had no financial dealings with Ashok Kumar. Sasikumar is the one who took money from us to produce films. The fact that a person who has had no financial dealings with us has written our name in the letter is shocking and surprising,” the statement by R Murali of Gopuram Films said.

Anbu Chezhiyan and his company have come under severe criticism following Ashok Kumar’s death. According to industry sources, the influential financier has extorted money from several producers and even actors, and has forced many into a cycle of debt and distress.

Sources have told TNM that Sasikumar’s production house, Company Production, have released all their movies on time and had no debt with Anbu Chezhiyan. However, when the company co-produced the Bala directorial Thaarai Thappattai, the cost of the movie went much higher than anticipated. It also suffered huge losses at the box office.

“That’s how they still owe money to Anbu. Though they have been paying the interest continuously, Anbu insisted that their next movie Kodi Veeran which is slated for release shortly, should not be released,” a source revealed.

Ashok Kumar, who has been managing the affairs of Company Production, pleaded with Anbu to let them release the film. “They had been paying interest regularly, and Ashok told Anbu that once the movie is released, they can get some money and pay him back,” the source said.

Anbu, however, stalled the release of the film, which left Ashok Kumar heartbroken, the source claims.

Gopuram Films though is defiant in the face of allegations. On a day that many from the film industry hit out at Anbu Chezhiyan, some even accusing him of threats, the company’s statement justifies their business dealings.

“People take money from us to produce films. They settle the accounts once the movie is released. This is routine in cinema,” the statement said.

“Some people want to produce films without any investment. We give them money without asking them for any kind of security. These people take money from multiple people for their films, but instead of making films they buy cars and houses and live a luxurious life, and they give difficulties to people like us who give them money. It seems there is a gang that is out to cheat us,” Gopuram Films alleged.

“For the last 20 years we have been in the cinema business. There has been no complaint against us. Moreover, there is no truth in what has been written purportedly by Ashok Kumar,” the statement claimed.

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