Telugu Film Industry Faces Off with Telangana Govt: Key Meeting with CM K. Revanth Reddy Today Post-Allu Arjun Arrest -

Allu Arjun, the star of Pushpa 2, was arrested in connection with the tragic death of a woman in a stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre during a screening of his film.

Tensions between the Telugu film industry and the Congress-led Telangana government have reached a boiling point following the arrest of actor Allu Arjun. The arrest, linked to the tragic death of a woman in a stampede during a screening of his film Pushpa 2 at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, has created a rift between the film industry and the state government.

Industry leaders have expressed their concerns over the arrest and its aftermath, arguing that the government has failed to provide the necessary support to prevent such incidents at film screenings. The arrest, which comes amidst heightened scrutiny of crowd management at film events, has also sparked anger among the actor’s fans and several industry figures, who feel the government is unfairly targeting the actor.

In response, the Telangana government, led by Chief Minister K. Revanth Reddy, has defended its actions, citing the need for law and order and addressing public safety concerns. The government has promised to conduct thorough investigations into the incident, but industry members are calling for a more balanced approach, ensuring that the focus is on improving safety measures at screenings rather than placing blame on individual celebrities.

The rift has escalated to the point where leaders from the Telugu film industry are demanding a formal discussion with the state government to resolve the issue. Key industry figures are expected to meet with the Chief Minister in the coming days to address the concerns of the film community and work towards preventing future incidents.

COURTESY: NTV Telugu

To ease the growing tensions, a crucial meeting between representatives of the Telangana government and the Telugu film industry is scheduled for Thursday, December 26. The meeting aims to address the concerns arising from the arrest of actor Allu Arjun and discuss measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Both sides are hopeful that the discussions will help restore relations and ensure better cooperation moving forward.

Allu Arjun was recently arrested in connection with the tragic death of a woman during a stampede at a screening of his latest film, Pushpa 2: The Rule, at a Hyderabad theatre on December 4. Despite being granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court, the actor was forced to spend a night in jail due to delays in the release of the bail order papers. The incident has sparked significant controversy, leading to heightened tensions between the Telugu film industry and the Telangana government.

At the time of Allu Arjun’s arrest, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated that the government had no involvement in the stampede case, under which the actor was detained. He emphasized that the law was following its due process.

In the meantime, Dil Raju, the chairman of the Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) and a prominent film producer, announced that a delegation from the Telugu film industry would meet with Chief Minister Reddy. The purpose of the meeting, scheduled for Thursday, December 26, is to foster “healthy relations” between the government and the film industry, addressing concerns and seeking mutual cooperation to prevent future incidents.

The upcoming meeting between the Telugu film industry representatives and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also comes amid a recent statement by Telangana’s Cinematography Minister, Komatireddi Venkat Reddy. He suggested that the state government might consider increasing ticket prices for specific film categories in the future, such as historical films, those centered on the freedom struggle, anti-drug themes, or message-oriented content.

If such a policy were to be implemented, it could significantly impact high-budget films set for release in January next year, including Game Changer starring Ram Charan, Daaku Maharaj featuring Nandamuri Balakrishna, and Sankranthiki Vasthunnam with Venkatesh. The potential rise in ticket prices could affect audience attendance and box-office revenue for these big releases, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions between the government and the film industry.

COURTESY: TeluguOne

Notably, Game Changer, directed by S. Shankar and produced by Dil Raju, is one of the high-budget films set to release in January. The film has reportedly been made with a budget of nearly ₹400 crore, making its box-office performance crucial for its stakeholders.

While the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the government’s decision to not allow benefit shows and to hike ticket prices on a case-by-case basis, this move may not sit well with production houses. These production houses typically rely on benefit shows during the early days of a movie’s release to boost ticket sales and capitalize on high demand. The government’s decision to regulate ticket prices and restrict benefit shows could potentially affect the revenue generated during the critical initial period of the film’s run. This could lead to tension between the government and filmmakers, who may feel the financial impact of such regulations.

The meeting with the state government is being organized by the Film Development Corporation (FDC), with Dil Raju acting as a bridge between the administration and the film industry. This move aims to foster better relations between the government and the film fraternity.

Meanwhile, some Congress leaders have strongly condemned Allu Arjun’s comments regarding the stampede incident at Sandhya Theatre, labeling it as a “purely accidental” event. They have also denied the allegations made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who had earlier held the actor responsible for the death of a 35-year-old woman and the hospitalization of her son during the stampede.

Reddy had argued that the police did not grant permission for Arjun’s visit to the theatre due to space constraints, yet the actor went ahead with his plan, which led to the tragic incident. In response, Hyderabad police called Arjun in for questioning on Tuesday, asking whether he was aware of the police’s denial of permission and who was responsible for proceeding with the plans despite the restriction.

The ongoing tension between the Telugu film industry and the Telangana government has escalated following the arrest of Allu Arjun in connection with the stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the screening of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule. The tragic incident, which led to the death of a 35-year-old woman and injuries to her son, has caused a rift between the film community and the state authorities.

In the aftermath of the incident, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy held Arjun responsible for the stampede, asserting that the actor had visited the theatre despite not having received police permission due to space constraints. This move was seen as a breach of protocol, with Reddy accusing Arjun of contributing to the chaos that ensued.

The Telangana government’s decision to reconsider film ticket pricing, particularly for high-budget films, adds another layer of complexity to the issue. There are talks of hiking ticket prices for specific categories such as history, freedom struggle, anti-drugs, and message-oriented films. If this policy is implemented, it could affect major upcoming releases, including Game Changer, produced by Dil Raju, which is said to have a production budget of ₹400 crore.

COURTESY: India Today

Dil Raju, who is also the chairman of the Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC), has expressed the industry’s concerns, stating that a delegation will meet CM Reddy to discuss fostering better relations between the state and the film industry. Despite the ongoing tensions, he believes that it is important to restore a healthy working relationship between the two parties.

The Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce has voiced its support for the government’s decision to restrict benefit shows and hike ticket prices on a case-by-case basis, but production houses are wary. Typically, production houses expect certain benefits during the early days of a film’s release, such as special screenings and increased ticket prices, which help maximize profits.

This situation highlights the growing divide between the government and the film industry, with both sides seeking to safeguard their interests while navigating the aftermath of the tragic stampede. The upcoming meeting between CM Reddy and film industry representatives is expected to be a crucial step in resolving these tensions and finding common ground.