Pushpa Stampede Row | Full Support To Telugu Film Industry But No Compromise On Law And Order: Revanth Reddy To Delegation

The Chief Minister made the remarks during a key meeting with Tollywood actors and filmmakers at Hyderabad's Banjara Hills today.

Hyderabad:Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy Thursday assured the Telugu film industry that the government will stand with it while asserting that there will be no compromise on law and order.

The Chief Minister made the remarks during a key meeting with Tollywood actors and filmmakers held at Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre at Banjara Hills here today.

In the meeting, CM Revanth Reddy made his decision clear with the film personalities on the benefit shows. He said that benefit shows will not be allowed anymore. "We will abide by the words said in the assembly," he said. CM Reddy also suggested that the film industry should be socially responsible in the development of Telangana.

He said, "The government is with the cinema industry. There is no need to compromise on peace and security. It is the responsibility of celebrities to control their fans. Film celebrities should take the initiative in drug control awareness and women's safety campaigns. Temple tourism and ecotourism should be promoted. The industry should also cooperate in terms of investments. From now on, we will be serious about bouncers. Moreover, there will be no benefit shows," said CM Reddy.

Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna said, "Our film industry will grow to a global level only if the government provides capital investment. We desire to make Hyderabad the film capital of the world. Studio setup should be at the universal level."

The meeting was held to thaw the speculated strained ties between the ruling dispensation and the tinseltown following the arrest of top actor Allu Arjun who was arrested recently in connection with the stampede at a theatre here screening his latest movie "Pushpa: The Rule" that resulted in the death of a woman on December 4.

The delegation from Tollywood was led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju. Among other attendees were actors Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyan Ram, Shiva Balaji, Adavi Sesh, Nithin, and Venkatesh. Sources said that CM pointed out that celebrities must control their fans and the industry must be responsible.

"A meeting was held with prominent figures from the film industry. The government was assured of the development of the film industry and the solution to its problems. Deputy CM Sri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Cinematography Minister Sri Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, FDC Chairman Sri Dil Raju and other high officials participated in this meeting," read the English translation of the CM's post in Telugu on X.

On Wednesday, Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman and leading producer Dil Raju had said that the delegation would call on the Chief Minister to foster "healthy relations" between the government and the industry.

The meeting assumed significance amid Cinematography minister Komatireddi Venkat Reddy's statement that the state government, in future, may consider ticket price hikes only for certain categories such as films made on history, freedom struggle or anti-drugs or message-oriented.

The state government's stand came in the wake of the death of a 35-year-old woman at Sandhya Theatre here due to suffocation where the 'Pushpa 2' movie was screened on December 4.

The minister’s statement, if really implemented, will have a huge impact on the high budget films such as Ram Charan’s "Game Changer", Nandamuri Balakrishna's "Daaku Maharaj" and Venkatesh’s "Sankranthiki Vasthunnam" which are slated for release during Sankranti next year.

Directed by popular Director S Shankar, Game Changer was produced by Dil Raju. The film is reportedly made with a budget of nearly Rs 400 crore. Though the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce welcomed the government's decision that it will not allow benefit shows of movies in the state and also enhanced ticket prices will be done on a case-to-case basis, the move may not go down well with the production houses as they usually look to reap the benefits during the early day of the film release.

Some ruling Congress leaders have found fault with Allu Arjun's comments last week, describing the stampede incident as purely accidental and denying the allegations made by CM Revanth Reddy on the "roadshow" before the film screening.

Hours after Reddy slammed the actor for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds at the theatre, without referring to anyone, the 'Pushpa' star refuted the allegations, saying it was not a procession or a roadshow.

Allu Arjun was arrested by the city police in connection with the death of the woman on December 13. The Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail on the same day and he was released from a prison here on December 14 morning.

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