Permission to shoot RGV's Bejawada rowdies withdrawn

Ace film producer-director Ram Gopal Varma on Wednesday received a jolt when Vijayawada Police Commissioner Amit Garg cancelled the permission given earlier for shooting his next celluloid venture ‘Bejawada Rowdies’.

Mr Garg stated that a social welfare organization Sarvodaya Mandali and some city residents raised objection to the title of the film, pointing out that it depicted the city in a bad light and would promote ‘caste wars’ in the city. Some other complainants objected to violent scenes being shot on the city roads.

The complainants also pointed out that the director has released some video clippings and media publications as curtain raisers. These by itself would drive a wedge between people and promote ‘casteism,’ the complainants stated.

Reacting to the complaints, the Police Commissioner cancelled permission for the shooting of the film. He said that shooting some of the scenes like a character being chased by men with swords and sickles on the roads would send ‘wrong signals’ and this cannot be allowed.

`Bejawada Rowdies’ is produced by Ram Gopal Varma and is being directed by newcomer Vivek. The film stars Akkineni Nagarjuna’s son Naga Chaitanya in the lead role.

The shooting of the movie was going on, on the city roads for the past few days.