In the wake of a police complaint by producer Sai Chidambaram alleging that he was kidnapped by director Bala and Seeman at the behest of director Balu Mahendra, there is a fresh question mark over whether Athu Oru Kanaa Kalam would release this Deepavali.

Already delayed due to financial constraint, the movie witnessed a hurdle with its director Balu Mahendra lodging a complaint with the police stating that he was cheated by the producer Sai Chidambaram and Rs four lakh was still due from the producer.

Balu Mahendra also took up the matter with the Tamil Film Directors Association and FEFSI.

More troubles to the movie came on Saturday in the form of a complaint lodged by Sai Chidambaram. He alleged that he was kidnapped by directors Seeman and Bala (he is a protege of Balu Mahendra) and was locked up at Balu Mahendra's office and threatened. He stated in the complaint that they urged him to pay the outstanding salary to Balu Mahendra.

'Only after the intervention of Tamil Film Producers Council, I was allowed to go home', he had said.

When contacted Seeman denying the charges and said, 'we went to Sai Chidamabaram's house only to arrange meeting between him and Balu Mahendra. It is rather unfortunate that a master craftsman like Balu Mahendra, who has won four national awards in a career spanning over three decades in filmdom, has been ill-treated so badly.'

With several hurdles on its way, one wonders the fate of the movie, which is still lying in the cans.