Passionate filmmaker Gunasekhar invested a huge sum for his historical magnum opus Rudhramadevi. Now that the film depicted an unsung story of a great warrior queen, it was thought that no entertainment tax would be levied by AP government. But then, nothing of that sort was happened. In contrast, Natasimham Nandamuri Balakrishna's Gauthamiputra Satakarni was exempted from the tax.
In the meanwhile, AP government's Nandi awards for 2014, 2015 and 2016 embroiled a huge controversy. Gunasekhar took a dig at the TDP governemnt through an open letter.
In his letter Gunasekhar says, "When Gauthamiputra Satakarni was exempted from tax, why not Rudhramadevi? Is it an unanswered question? It is heard that if anyone questions on 2014, 2015 and 2016's Nandi awards, they will be ineligible for Nandi awards for three years.Are we really living in India or in any other nation? Rudhramadevi symbolizes women empowerment This film couldn't get recognized by the jury. Did they feel making such films convey wrong feelers to the society? If so, forgive me for making that film".