More Support For Controversial Financier Anbu Chezhiyan
A few days after the alleged suicide of Ashok Kumar who was also related to director Sasikumar, more members of the Tamil film industry have come forward in support of the controversial financier Anbu Chezhiyan.
In his suicide note, Kumar alleged that he had been harassed by a loan shark for a while, blaming film financier Madurai Anbu Chezhian for causing him distress. After his death, stars like Kamal Haasan, Prakash Raj had condemned the power that money lenders have over producers.
President of the Tamil Nadu Producers’ Council, actor Vishal had stated in a Facebook post: “This is a direct warning to all Financiers, likeminded people & so called federations who extort money, more than the stipulated interest & to the People who harass honest Producers & family members” and termed Ashok Kumar’s suicide as “murder”.
On Friday, in a press meet called by prominent film personalities, Devayani, producers Kalaippuli S Thanu and Elred Kumar, director-producers C Sundar, Vetrimaaran, Manobala, and actor-producer Vijay Antony spoke in support of Anbu Chezhiyan.
Vijay Antony said that he was able to become a successful music director because of Anbu while Thanu added that Rajini Murugan would not have released without Anbu’s help and the last time he paid the financier was for Kabali but he has not created any issue over it. They also said that producers often have to pay huge interests to pay actors in advance and more regulation is needed to control finances in the industry.
On Anbu, Devayani had earlier said, “He has always been a gentleman, and was very sweet. He respects us and we respect him, too. He never interfered in our business.”
“If ever there was a delay in paying my interests, I’d call him and he’d (Anbu) say ‘send when you can’. He also has never demanded distribution rights for my films. I have never had a bitter experience with him. He has always been flexible; someone whom I can call even in the middle of the night for financial assistance,” said Sundar C.
Meanwhile, actress Poorna tweeted this:
He left this world,only thing we can do is to give biggest punishment for that Basturd #AnbuCheziyan .. let’s hold our hands together for it pic.twitter.com/XDFUXVZLsA
— Poorna (@shamna_kasim) November 24, 2017
Marathi Debut For Rajinikanth, Mammootty?
Veteran stars Rajinikanth and Mammootty might work together for a Marathi film Pasaayadan directed by Deepak Bhave, according to Mumbai Mirror. The two stars were last seen together in Tamil crime-drama Thalapathy in 1991.
IFFI Asks S Durga Director To Submit Film’s Censored Version
The organisers of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) have asked Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, director of S Durga, to submit a censored version of the film for consideration.
Two films, Sasidharan’s S Durga and Ravi Jadhav’s Marathi film Nude were rejected by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after the jury of IFFI submitted their final list in October.
