HYDERABAD: The screening of Telugu film "Adurs" starring Junior NTR was Wednesday disrupted in Telangana following a boycott call given by Telangana Jagruthi, the cultural arm of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).
While TRS activists stopped the screening in some towns, theatres in other places decided not to screen the movie, which was released across Andhra Pradesh Wednesday.
Police arrested dozens of TRS workers in Nizamabad and Nalgonda districts when they tried to forcibly stop the screening of the film at few theatres.
The screening was also disrupted in Karimnagar, Medak, Adilabad and Mahabubnagar districts. Raising slogans of "Jai Telangana", the protestors tried to attack theatres and set afire posters and cut-outs. Several theatres voluntarily cancelled the screening in view of the popular sentiments.
Telangana Jagruthi leader and TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's daughter K. Kavita had called for the boycott of the film as its producers were opposed to the demand for formation of Telangana state.
Tight security measures were made at theatres as Director General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar had Tuesday assured Andhra Pradesh High Court that police would provide protection to the theatres. The assurance had come after the producers moved the court.
Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Naani and V. Vamsi Mohan, the producers of the film, are leaders of Telugu Desam Party. Kavita has alleged that they were supporting the movement against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
TRS went ahead with its protest though Junior NTR issued a statement clarifying that he was not against Telangana. Movie Artistes' Association (MAA) has also clarified that they had no regional feelings.
Meanwhile, Congress legislator from Rayalaseema region T.G. Venkatesh has demanded Kavita's arrest for disrupting the screening of the film.
State minister for health D. Nagender, who comes from Hyderabad, has also criticised TRS for stopping the film. He alleged that Chandrasekhara Rao and his family members were acting like Thackerays of Hyderabad.
The films and film shooting of actors opposing the demand for statehood to Telangana have been facing the ire of TRS and other pro-Telangana groups.