Will a mugshot at this studio shoot netas to poll glory?

HYDERABAD: A picture is worth a thousand words. A picture at Aruna Studio in Barkatpura, Telangana, tells a success story just as well as — if not better than — a lot of written words. Little wonder, netas and candidates trying their luck in the poll arena flock to this studio near Narayanguda flyover. This election, it was no different as leaders believe getting a photograph clicked here ensures a sure-shot win at the hustings.

For instance, Anil Kumar Yadav, Congress candidate from Musheerabad seat, rushed to the photo studio as soon as his name was cleared by the party. “I used the photos taken at Aruna Studio on my nomination papers, pamphlets, handouts, banners, festoons and campaign vehicles,” Anil told TOI. His father and GHMC Congress president Anjan Kumar Yadav had visited the studio in 2004 and 2009 before filing nomination for Secunderabad parliamentary constituency and gone on to win. “Obviously, I am following in my father’s footsteps and sentiment and filed my papers,” he said.

Not just Anil, senior leaders cutting across party lines — Ponnam Prabhakar (Karimnagar), Chada Venkat Reddy (Husnabad), P Shankar Rao (Shadnagar), K Laxman (Musheerabad), Ramreddy Damodar Reddy (Suryapet) and G Sunitha (Aler) — have also visited the studio hoping to boost their chances.


“Damodar Reddy was the first elected representative who visited our studio way back in 1994 soon after it opened. Since then, he has been visiting the studio,” studio owner N Satish told TOI.

Claiming that he maintains a record of all the politicians who come calling to his studio, 45-year-old Satish said that many TRS leaders too, like K T Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, Kadiam Srihari among others, call him to their residence owing to security reasons as they cannot come down to the studio.