Vaitla-Kona tussle gets murkier - TeluguPeople.com News

Director's Association slammed Kona over his remarks on current director's knowledge on the difference between script and screenplay, but the Association was far from clear in what they tried to tell

It all started when director Sreenu Vaitla took the dialogue credits for 'Dookudu', but the issue blew up with 'Baadshah' publicity. As soon as ace writer Kona Venkat's name was missing from the film's publicity posters, speculations were rife on the duo of Vaitla and Kona, who collaborated for films like 'Venky',' Dhee', 'Andarivadu', 'Ready' and 'King' in the past, not meeting eye-to-eye. But, things got murkier when Kona, in an interview to a regional daily, slammed current director's knowledge of screenplay.

Taking objections to Kona's interview on Wednesday in Hyderabad, Director's Association which received complaints from its members was hardly pleased with the way Kona went public when he had the luxury of approaching the trade bodies.

'He could have gone to Writer's Association or Directors Association if he had issues with Sreenu Vaitla,' the Association said.

Mincing no words, Directors' Association President Sagar lashed out at Kona by stating that he has no eligibility as a writer. 'In the interview he mentioned about the lack of respect that writers these days are getting when compared to the respect that Athreya and Jandhyala received.

What does he know about them? I've worked with Paruchuri Brothers, Satyananad and Satyamurthy among others and they clearly were aware about their craft.

It never boiled down to respect. It was always the work. A writer gives his 36-page draft and leaves, but it is the director who stays with the film till its release,' said Sagar.

He added, 'I spoke to certain producers and they said that Kona is ignorant of many film-related crafts. He lands on sets and gives inputs to heroines. That's it. I doubt whether he has ever written a complete script?'

The Director's Association could have easily taken Kona into confidence before going to air, but it was otherwise. 'When he went public, why we can't?' Sagar responded. However, he looked out of sorts when he referred to writers Salim-Javed as an individual.

As things got heated up, general secretary M Ramesh clarified that they've reached out to Kona on the interview. 'Two days ago we were told that he will issue a clarification, but he failed to keep his words,' Ramesh said.
In a GBM (General Body Meeting) meeting set to take place this Sunday, Chamber bodies will decide whether to take action on Kona or not.