PRODUCERS ARRESTTED?
Actress Sushma Files Complaint

Scoop eport by - CNB              Photos   - K.M. VEERESH               Date - 14th March  2004

The raging controversy between actress Sushma,Chidanand (Pa Pa Pandu) on the one side and producers of ‘Ayyo Pandu’ Kannada film (starring Chidanand and Sushma) Harish,Umesh Banakar and Naresh Jain on the other side has taken a serious turn on Saturday evening.

Actress Susham alleged murder threat from producers of ‘Ayyo Pandu’ in her second complaint filed to the Upparpet Police station on Saturday. With this serious complaint the producers are put in inconvenient spot. They are approaching the Upparpet Police station even before the police look out for them to explain the situation. One among the three producers Ba.Ma.Harish is an aspirant for Rajajinagar Assembly seat in the coming election in April 2004.

A BRIEF UPDTATE ON THIS CONTROVERSY
Chidanand alias Pa Pa Pandu was given a warm welcome by the trio producers to act in a film ‘Ayyo Pandu’. He accepted it and actress Sushma (remember her Ulta Pulta tearjerker role) who was staying in Goa all these day was chosen as heroine. After this film was completed the same producers started ‘Pandu Ranga’ television serial to give a permanent stay for Chidanand as he was not in the scene after walking away from final cut production’s ‘Pa Pa Pandu’. After a few episodes telecast in Udaya TV the trouble started from Chidanand. Ba. Ma. Harish had told he was dancing to the tune of Sushma. There were strong allegations and counter allegations. The producers of newly started television serial did not keep quiet. They forced Chidanand to attend the television serial shooting. But Chidanand supported by Sushma was continuously absent. This became a prestige issue for the producers because they have to submit half an hour episode every day.  At this stage Sushma and Chidanand filed first complaint of harassment to the police. One of the producers Ba.Ma.Harish was arrested on this complaint and he had to stay in the police station for one night.

After months of this controversy now the producers of ‘Ayyo Pandu’ went to actress Sushma to invite her for the promotion of the film in television channel. After they visited Sushma’s house the turn of event is the filing of case on life threat by Sushma at Upparpet police station.

While no one fights for quality of Kannada films and chalk out measures to get the audience to the theatres, but for this type of controversy there is no dearth in Sandalwood.