Telugu film industry to observe shutdown on Friday over piracy

The Telugu film industry will observe a shutdown on March 19 to demand Andhra Pradesh government to deal firmly with piracy even as producer Yalamanchi Ravichand's fast-unto-death over the issue entered the third day Wednesday with leading film personalities expressing solidarity with him.

Movie Artists' Association (MAA) president Muralimohan told reporters Wednesday evening that all activities related to the film industry would come to a halt Friday to press the demand for anti-piracy measures.

MAA appealed to owners of all theatres in the state to participate in the shutdown. Even it urged television channels not to telecast film-related programmes on the day.

Producers will not take up shooting and all the artists including top stars would participate in a rally. Muralimohan said a memorandum would be submitted to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to bring piracy under the purview of Goonda Act.

MAA president and other industry leaders appealed to Ravichand to withdraw the fast. The producer is on fast in front of the office of the Film Chamber in Film Nagar here,

The producer of film 'Mayagadu' received support from actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi, and several actors and producers.

Chiranjeevi, who met the young producer, urged the Andhra Pradesh government to take firm action to deal with piracy a la Tamil Nadu.

'Piracy is like pick-pocketing and it should be treated as a crime under the Goonda Act,' said Chiranjeevi, president of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).

Popular actors Nagarjuna, Junior NTR and several others also called on Ravichand to express solidarity with him.

According to Telugu film industry, the second biggest after Bollywood, piracy was causing a loss of over Rs.2 billion (Rs.200 crore) every year.

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