Bid to distort cinema history: Dasari

Hyderabad: Veteran film director Dasari Narayana Rao has alleged that a certain section of Tollywood, which virtually controls the functioning of the Telugu film industry, was trying to rewrite the history of Telugu cinema Speaking at a book release function at Prasad Labs on Sunday, Dasari said some people were trying to ‘encroach’ even the history of the Telugu film industry.

Dasari has brought to the fore the division of Tollywood in the name of caste. His talk at the book release function underlines the undertones of caste feelings that hurt film industry from time to time. He pointed out that while there was no problem with BN Reddy and KV Reddy Awards, the award committees had made sure that he (Naidu) was removed from Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, a glaring example of such leanings within the industry.

Alleging that a certain community is controlling the industry, he alleged that apart from controlling the theatre network, they were also trying to rewrite the film history as it suits them. Ironically, there is common feeling that after Dasari’s growth in the industry, a particular social community of filmmakers and artistes got a boost in the industry. Meanwhile, Dasari is alleging that the history of Telugu cinema is being changed to suit the vested interests of a particular section.

When asked, a well-known director in the Telugu film industry on condition of anonymity said, “Instead of speaking at public forums, it would be best if Dasari takes up the task of chronicling the history of Telugu cinema. Since he is a seasoned writer, he would surely do a good job and Telugu film industry will surely benefit from such impartial archives.”