On Friday, the multi-lingual film on the life of former chief minister late YS Rajasekhar Reddy and father of the YSRC leader Jaganmohan Reddy is set to release in two Telugu states. The movie named ‘Yatra’ has run into controversy with the Congress alleging that their leader Sonia Gandhi has been portrayed in a bad light.
The movie which is directed by Mahi V Raghav, revolves around the life of YSR, as Rajasekhar Reddy was popular called in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, his struggles against his critics within the Congress and how he led the Congress to a landslide victory in 2004 by beating the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Janga Gautam, the spokesperson of the Congress’ Andhra Pradesh unit said that the biopic has intentionally targeted the Congress party and its leader Sonia Gandhi as part of a hidden agenda of Jagan YSRC to finish off their party in collaboration with the BJP. N Raghuveera Reddy the Congress’ state unit president had also criticised the movie at a recent media conference, saying it is not a biopic but a “bio-trick”.
“Let the people behind the movie make the cast speak the truth that Rajasekhar Reddy was a true Congressman… YSR wished to see Rahul ji as the Prime Minister and we are all striving to realise his dream. His son, Jagan, needs to acknowledge this fact,” Raghuveera said. Another Congress leader V Gurnadham said that the party will take a decision on whether to protest the movie after watching it. However, YSRC social media wing in-charge G Devendar Reddy asserted that the filmmakers have only tried to present the facts before the people beyond personal animosities and politics.
“Is it not true that YSR faced a lot of troubles from the Congress leadership and that he undertook a gruelling Padayatra in 2003 midsummer against the wishes of the Congress high command? Is it also not true that Sonia Gandhi jailed Jagan for political reasons?” he asked.
It all true history which the movie is trying to show, added Devendar Reddy.