A.M. Rathnam’s Old Dues Cloud Over Hari Hara Veera Mallu Release
Two leading distribution houses have filed formal complaints against him with the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce, demanding long-pending dues from his earlier ventures
Ahead of the release of the Pawan Kalyan-starrer ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part One – Sword vs Spirit’, on July 24, two leading distribution houses have filed formal complaints against the film’s producer A.M. Rathnam with the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, demanding the payment of long-pending dues from his earlier ventures.
Asian Enterprises, in its letter to the chamber, claimed it is yet to recover dues of `2.6 crore (including interest) from the 2017 film ‘Oxygen’, and has sought the association’s intervention. Similarly, Mahalaxmi Films has submitted a complaint regarding unpaid amounts totalling `90 lakh for the films ‘Muddula Koduku’ and ‘Bangaram’.
The complaints, which have now gone viral on social media, have added a layer of uncertainty over the release of ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’. Both distribution firms have reportedly urged the film chamber to withhold clearance for the release until their payments are settled.
A source within the Telangana Film Chamber, on condition of anonymity, revealed: “The letter was initially addressed to A.M. Rathnam privately, urging him to resolve the financial disputes amicably. Unfortunately, the document has now been leaked online, and we are not responsible for its circulation.”
“The chamber has ruled in favour of the distributors, given the longstanding nature of their grievances. We sincerely hope the matter is resolved swiftly so that the film's release remains unaffected,” the source claimed.
No official response has been issued by Rathnam or his production team. However, industry watchers believe that this development could put pressure on the producer to settle dues or risk legal and logistical hurdles just days before the film’s most anticipated release.
