Thimma producers speak against Sai Sagar

It was an unusual and an avoidable scene that is surely not the ideal release function of any film. But the fact that it did happen threw light on the simmering discontent that was brewing inside and waiting to explode. The release event made media pertaining to the film Thimma question both the hero and the director of the film who conspicuous by their absence. Only the two producers of the film Sampath Kumar and Shilpa Srinivas addressed the press along with the film's music directors Venkat-Narayan.

While they were lavish in appreciating the efforts of the film's music directors, the producers in general and Sampath Kumar in particular came down heavily on the attitude of Sai Sagar and Arjun whom they charged with utter unprofessional conduct and lack of concern for the plight of the producers. However, both of them agreed that they had not extended the invitation to either the director or the hero of the film and added that both of them should have known that the release day press conferences were common features in the industry.

"Both Sai Sagar and Arjun think that they have already achieved great strides in the industry. They should think that it is because of our investment and hard work that they got their job to direct and act in this film. But what have they done in return to us. They do not have courtesy to even promote our film. In front of the TV Channels, director Sai Sagar is speaking on his next project Mooraneya Class Manja, B.Com Bhagya' and not on my film for which we have spent around two crores. He has even refused to sign the remake rights agreement despite the fact that we were finding it difficult to release the film. And Sai Sagar and Arjun showed lack of concern with the plight of producers. I had booked Arjun for my next film "Channa, but since I was disgusted with his unprofessionalism I have decided to drop him from the project. Now, I will start the film with another hero Deepu (Sishya fame) which will be launched in the month of May' said Sampath Kumar.

Sampath Kumar was unstoppable. Despite Shilpa Srinivas trying to restrain him, Sampath went whole hog to criticise "Mental' brothers and said that such people should not be encouraged by the producers. It"s because of the producer"s directors and artists are there. If we put the amount we can even make a dog also as a character and take a movie. He said that he had only believed that God would help him and had decided to put a cutout of Lord Venkateshwara in front of the Kapali theatre.

To ensure the movies success, the producers have decided to adorn the entrance of Kapali Theatre with a cutout of Lord Venkateshwaraswamy. The cut out measures 80 feet. It has the images of the producers at the bottom. Sampath Kumar said that he and Srinivas are the ardent devotees of the Lord and the title of the film was decided during one of his visits to Tirupati.