Ram Gopal Varma's Movie the Latest Flashpoint Between Chandrababu Naidu, Jagan as Polls Near

The controversy over Ram Gopal Varma’s yet-to-be-released movie Vyooham hit a peak when activist Kolikapudi Sreenivasa Rao offered a bounty of Rs 1 crore for the filmmaker’s head during a TV debate.

The film, which allegedly shows Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in a favourable light and ‘demonises’ his main political opponent, N Chandrababu Naidu, has been the bone of contention between the two parties for the past few weeks.

With elections in the state around the corner, the clash between rival parties has only become more high-pitched.

Four days ago, Nara Lokesh, TDP leader and son of Chandrababu Naidu, approached the high court and requested it to cancel the censor certificate for the movie which, he alleged, was made with the blessings of the chief minister to tarnish the image of his father.

A day ago, protesters burnt posters of the movie in front of the filmmaker’s office in Hyderabad. Things came to a head when the activist announced a bounty for RGV.

In response, Ram Gopal Varma lodged an online complaint against Sreenivasa Rao with Andhra Pradesh police. He also took to social media platform X to raise the issue.

Sreenivasa Rao is a leader of Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi Joint Action Committee, which is fighting to get Amaravati recognised as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

In a previous tweet, RGV had referred to the protesters outside his office as “dogs”.

In response to the petition filed by TDP leader Nara Lokesh, the high court has directed the censor board to present its stand by December 28. The film is set to be released on December 29 and the TDP counsel has requested the high court to hold its release. He argued that the movie shows Chandrababu Naidu in a poor light, and that freedom of expression should not interfere with a person’s right to live with dignity.