Rafi-directed Inkennallu and R Narayanamurthy's Poru Telangana have something in common. They both throw their weight behind the ongoing Telangana movement in the socio-cultural sphere and propagate the statehood issue in their different ways. Their release dates were separated by more than 6-8 weeks initially. Poru Telangana, which was released during the thick of the Sakala Janula Samme, failed to attract the crowds to the theatres.

Since the film has always been dear to K Chandrasekhar Rao, the TRS leader, he urged RN to re-release the movie. Inkennallu too was scheduled to be released around the same time (on Dec. 31). Though the two films espouse the T cause, the audience chose to prefer Poru.., as it was directed by RN, who, needless to say, is more popular than Rafi.

Subsequent to the simultaneous release of the two films, trade circles have commented that Poru.. has affected the BO prospects of Inkennallu. There is of course truth in this.

The saga gives rise to this pertinent question: Should not RN have desisted from timing the re-release of Poru.. with Inkennallu’s release? Films lunging for the cause of Telangana are claimed to be made not for profit, but for the sacred cause dear to the hearts of crores of Telanganites.

In any case, Poru.. is not drawing crowds as well as it was expected to draw. Nagarjuna’s Rajanna and Sueresh Kondeti-produced Journey are the winners in Telangana.

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