Tollywood: Movie Artist Association irks in Controversy

Hyderabad: The recent dispute between President of Telugu MAA (Movie Artist Association) Shivaji Raja, and its General Secretary Naresh over the alleged misappropriation of funds collected during a US trip has created a rift in the organization.

In a bid to restore the tarnished image of the association, both the actors have claimed that everything is well between them, but public appearances and media reports suggest otherwise.

Also, MAA’s decision to stay away from setting up a fact-finding committee to probe the alleged misappropriation of funds has not gone down well with some of its members and the media too.

Senior Naresh and Shivaji Raja Group are at loggerheads last week after the former alleged gross misproportion of funds related to a Silver Jubilee Event planned in the USA. Naresh locked all the accounts of MAA and indulged in a war of words with Shivaji Raja. But then, both of them called for a joint press meet late at night and said there are little differences which will be sorted out.

There are allegations that they decided to brush off the controversy under the carpet on the pressure of industry biggies. The earlier talk of a fact-finding committee has now disappeared too. Sivaji Raja, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, and Srikanth.

Srikanth offered not to come to MAA office if the allegations are proved and Sivaji Raja offered to give away all his properties. Naresh who earlier alleged the misuse of funds is conspicuously absent for the meeting in the name of a busy schedule.

However, people say that this blatant refusals and condemnations will not do good to the stature of MAA and the committee should clean by ordering a high-level committee to look into the allegations.