It's a tricky situation for the director of the recently released Kannada film Taj Mahal.

The film has been running successfully at the theatres, but the number of calls plaguing director R Chandru is what's really bothering him. Most of the callers claim that the film Taj Mahal is based on their own life. To have made a film that so many people can relate to, ought to be taken as a compliment.

However, the fact that these callers are accusing the director of stealing their story is what has turned out to be a nightmare.

The real story

In a previous interview with MiD DAY, director Chandru had revealed that the story of Taj Mahal is based on the life of one of his close friends.

He says, "The story is based on my friend's life. I can prove this by asking this friend of mine to meet the media. What the other callers are claiming is completely baseless. The film is about college students. There are so many students in so many different colleges. So, obviously there will be many people who will be able to relate to the story. That does not mean I have stolen a page out of their lives and made it into a film. I am confused about whether to feel good or bad about this development," says Chandru. 

Not just calls!

"A college student called Pradeep who studies at an engineering college in Tumkur came to meet me at my office. He told me all about his life in college and insisted that I had created my film based on his story. He also threatened to write to the media to tell them that Taj Mahal was a copy. I don't even know this guy. I tired to make him understand that it was not possible for me to make a film about someone I have never met or heard of, but he just would not listen," he says.

As of now, the director says he has given up trying to convince people. "Now I have learnt to ignore calls from unknown numbers. It's really become a nightmare," says Chandru.