'Leader' vs 'Mass Leader' row reaches top cop's office

 Dispute over a film title, between director A M R Ramesh and the producers of Shivaraj Kumar-starrer ‘Mass Leader’ has reached the Benglauru City Police Commissioner’s office.

Ramesh, who shot to fame with the movie ‘Cyanide’ (2006), on Thursday submitted a petition to the Police Commissioner Praveen Sood seeking police protection to him and his family from a group of unknown persons.

“I have been facing threats from unknown persons since December 12, 2016 as they are opposed to the title ‘Leader’ for my upcoming movie. They are sending messages and calling me on my mobile phone and threatening me,” Ramesh stated in the petition.

He said that he had approached Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), but there was no help from the KFCC office-bearers.

Ramesh registered the title ‘Leader’ for his movie in 2013, but another production house wanted ‘Leader’ for its movie casting Shivaraj Kumar.

 “After verifying the documents, the KFCC allotted ‘Mass Leader’ to the movie produced by Tarun Shivappa who will be casting Shivaraj Kumar in the lead role,” Ramesh told DH.

“A few men claiming to be Shivaraj Kumar’s fans threatened me for opposing the use of title ‘Leader.’ I contacted Srikanth of Shivaraj Kumar Fans’ Association, and he assur-ed me some action, but the torture did not end,” Ramesh said.

Police Commissioner said: “I have received a petition and our men are ascertaining the identity of those who have threatened Ramesh. Action will be taken against them.”

KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu said: “At the meeting held between two groups at the Chamber on April 10, I directed the production house that the font size of the two words ‘Mass’  and ‘Leader’ should be same. The font size of ‘Leader’ was too big and that of ‘ Mass’ too small. The chamber has resolved the row between the two teams.”