Another producer files complaint against film financier Anbu Chezhiyan

The Tamil Nadu police continue to search for Tamil film financier Anbu Chezhiyan for allegedly harassing producer Ashok Kumar and pushing him to suicide. Meanwhile, another producer has come forward and lodged a police complaint against the moneylender.

Sakthivel, who made the film Maanga (2015), has lodged a complaint with the Chennai police commissioner against Anbu Chezhiyan. He has also sought protection from the film financier.

In his complaint, the producer is believed to have said he produced Maanga at a cost of Rs6 crore and that Anbu Chezhiyan and his brother, Azhagarsamy, offered to distribute the film. The producer alleged that the brothers offered to give him 10% of the profit they made from releasing the film.

However, the producer alleged, when he went to seek his share of the profit after the film's release, he was threatened by the brothers, who refused to give him the money. He also alleged that Anbu Chezhiyan's men threatened his wife and older family members at home.

Fearing for their safety and his life, Sakthivel said he chose to return to his native town with his family. 

The producer said he had complained to the Tamil Film Producers' Council at the time. He said he was choosing to lodge a police complaint now on the assurance of support given by Vishal, the new president of the producers' body.

Sakthivel claimed that he sensed a threat to his life from Anbu Chezhiyan and, therefore, sought police protection. 

Meanwhile, Azhagarsamy of Sushma Cine Arts denied all the allegations made by Sakthivel. In a statement issued to the media, Azhagarsamy said, "I have been distributing films through my firm Sushma Cine Arts. A complaint has been lodged against our firm by Dreamzone Movies' Sakthivel, claiming that he had given us the distribution rights of his film Maanga and, as a result, suffered losses. 

"We have never met Sakthivel in person or spoken to him on the phone. We never distributed the film Maanga all over Tamil Nadu. He has filed a false complaint deliberately to harm our reputation and with the intention of cheating us. Therefore, we hereby make it clear that we will be filing defamation proceedings against him in a court of law."