Bangalore, March 17 (IANS) The new Telugu film "Mestri" has become a talking point in political and movie circles in the south with many saying that it takes potshots at superstar-politician Chiranjeevi. But director Suresh Krissna maintains that he never intended to hurt anybody's sensibilities.

That the film stars Congress leader and old rival Dasari Narayana Rao, who has also written and produced the movie, and has been timed just ahead of the general elections have added to the controversy.

Dasari has not acted in recent years and the fact that he donned greasepaint for a film with political overtones, specially when Chiranjeevi will test political waters for the first time with his Praja Rajyam party, has raised more than a few eyebrows with many reports in the media as well.

The movie, which released in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka this Friday, is about a mestri or leader (Dasari) who fights for justice and the rights of poor labourers and has a character that resembles Chiranjeevi.

"Dasari has several sequences in the film in which he makes an indirect comment on Chiranjeevi. He has used an important character in the film played by Vijayakumar, whose characterisation is similar to that of Chiranjeevi. Dasari, who plays the role of a mestri has some dialogues that attack Chiranjeevi's political moves. It is funny and also critical," said a Telugu film producer on condition of anonymity.

A scene in the film, for instance, has Dasari asking Vijayakumar what he had done for his community.

But director Krissna, who has worked with Chiranjeevi earlier, said the film was on the issue of land-grabbing and refused to make any references to the Telugu superstar.