Tollywood backs Mohan Babu - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: The controversy surrounding Manchu Vishnu-starrer Denikaina Ready refuses to die down. A day of fast-paced developments, Vishnu's father and veteran actor Mohan Babu called for a press meet at his residence even as members of various Brahmin organisations staged a protest at Khairatabad and sought to rush to the Raj Bhavan demanding the arrest of the duo.

The police stepped in and arrested the protestors but the real drama unfolded not at the Raj Bhavan but at Mohan Babu's residence and the Film Nagar.

In true filmi style, priests from Chennai and Tirupati 'blessed' the actor and his family and wished for their well-being at the press meet itself.

Tandra Ashwini Sastry and Tandra Rohini Sastry from Chennai and Malladi Satyanarayana Sastry, who hails from Tirupati, condemned protests by their peers in the city and said their ways were not as per the ethics of the Brahmin community.

They were commenting on the mock funeral rites performed by local Brahmins in protest against Mohan Babu's alleged derogatory remarks on the community. Tandra Ashwini Sastry said, 'Mohan Babu's family and we have always had good relations.

They respect us and always treat us with utmost respect. Recent media reports have really disappointed us. Performing the last rites of a person, when he is alive, is against our culture. It is against our ethics and any Brahmin, with divine wisdom, will never stoop to such a level.'

In an ominous tone, he warned, 'If anyone performs such rituals with an evil intention, it will backfire on him. If the content of a movie hurts the sentiments of anyone, he/she can always discuss and sort it out. And if they are beyond the point of discussion, there are courts to decide the matter. One should never attack or protest before trying non-violent means.'

Malladi Satyanarayana Sastry chipped in, 'This is precisely why we are here. We support Mohan Babu and his family. He is a great human being and does a lot of charity. We should stop these protests right here.'

Responding to the support he received, Mohan Babu said, 'I am happy to have received their support. I cannot comment any further, as the issue is in the court of law. I will talk only when the time is right.'

Post the presser, another press meet was organised at the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) by all sectors of the industry __ producers' council, directors' council and the employees' association.

Headed by president of APFCC Tamma Reddy Bharadwaj, they sent out a clear message: We will take action against anyone if they resort to such protests as attacks on theatres, offices and houses of actors.

Said Tamma Reddy Bharadwaj, 'Nobody in the industry has anything against any caste or religious group in the city. We do not intend to hurt anybody through our films. And if there is objectionable content, the Censor Board will take care of the issue.

If the Censor Board cannot deal with it, there is the Revising Committee and the Tribunal. Our industry runs because of the audience and we are happy to discuss any issue and solve it. Physical attacks will not be encouraged.'

Producer D Ramanaidu also said it was for the Censor Board to take a decision when any group raises objections. Adding to this, producer Rajender Reddy said, 'People on the Censor Board must not only be politically aware, but should also be socially aware.'