Telugu film producer on fast-unto-death against piracy

Hyderabad, March 17 (IANS) Telugu film producer Yalamanchi Ravichand's fast-unto-death demanding steps to curb piracy entered the third day Wednesday with leading film personalities expressing solidarity with him.

Ravichand, on fast in front of the office of the Film Chamber in Film Nagar here, is demanding that the government deal with piracy under the Anti-Goonda Act.

The producer of film 'Mayagadu' received support from actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi, Movie Artists' Association (MAA) president Muralimohan 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).

Muralimohan told reporters that MAA would give a call for stopping all film production activities for one day to take out a huge rally to demand the government to initiate strong measures to curb the menace.

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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