Telugu Film industry, though is undergoing through a turbulent times these days, has decided to go together for a common purpose. Tollywood industry as a whole, would go for a ‘Maha Dharna’ in New Delhi. The major aim of ‘Maha Dharna’ is pressurizing the centre in granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. Further, it is learnt that the event would take place on April 22. Speaking about the same, industry insiders maintained that they had taken inspiration from Kollywood in this aspect. The protest staged by Kollywood in demanding the establishment of Cauvery River Management Board, has influenced Tollywood in going for a similar one.
As far as the preparations of the ‘Maha Dharna’ are concerned with, a preliminary meeting had taken place between Nandamuri Balakrishna and Movie Artists Association (MAA) President Sivaji Raja. It was after the meeting, which they have decided to conduct the protest in New Delhi. However, as part of the Delhi protest, Tollywood actors would also be staging a ‘Padayatra’ in Vijayawada. Ambica Krishna, the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation (APSFTVTDC), too announced giving full support for the programme. In their attempt to fetch the Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, Tollywood would also go for giving State level and District level Kandukuri Pratishtatmaka Puraskaram. The Puraskarams are being given on the occasion of 171st birth anniversary of Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu, who is considered as the father of renaissance movements in Telugu.
Into the ‘Maha Dharna’, it is not known, which of the members from Tollywood fraternity would participate in the programme. Since there are some marked differences in terms of the political interest amongst the stars in Tollywood, it has to be seen how the programme manages to rope in stars from different camps under one roof. While talking about the ‘Maha Dharna’, one can’t forget the fact that Nandamuri Balakrishna is an MLA from Hindupur constituency.