Tollywood Delegation Meets Telangana CM Amid Pushpa 2 and Political Controversies

A significant meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and key stakeholders from the Tollywood film industry was held at the Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The session was attended by prominent actors, directors, and producers, with discussions likely revolving around the smooth functioning and pressing concerns of the Tollywood industry.

Notable Attendees

The delegation, led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju, included an array of influential figures:

• Actors: Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyan Ram, Shiva Balaji, Adivi Sesh, Nithin, and Venkatesh.
• Directors: Koratala Siva, Anil Ravipudi, K Raghavendra Rao, Prashanth Varma, Sai Rajesh.
• Producers: Suresh Babu, KL Narayana, Damodhar, Allu Aravind, BVSN Prasad, and Chinna Babu.

Focus of the Meeting

The agenda of the meeting is speculated to address:

1. Ensuring the safety and security of public events related to Tollywood.
2. Strengthening infrastructure for the film industry in Telangana.
3. Enhancing government-industry collaboration for better management of large-scale events and premieres.

Pushpa 2 Premiere Controversy

The meeting comes in the wake of the tragic incident during the premiere of Allu Arjun’s film Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre earlier this month.

• A massive crowd gathered to see Allu Arjun, who waved to fans from the sunroof of his car.
• This led to a stampede, causing the death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child.
• Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after furnishing a ₹50,000 bond.

Political Allegations and Backlash

The incident has ignited political controversy, with CM Revanth Reddy blaming Allu Arjun for the tragedy. In a statement in the Telangana Assembly, the Chief Minister alleged that police had denied permission for the event at Sandhya Theatre due to safety concerns.

Allu Arjun dismissed these allegations, terming them an attempt at “character assassination.”

Previous Controversy Involving Tollywood

The Tollywood industry has recently been embroiled in controversies, including earlier allegations by Telangana Minister K Surekha linking BRS leader KTR to the divorce of actors Samantha and Naga Chaitanya. Surekha accused KTR of phone-tapping and blackmailing actors, sparking massive backlash from BRS leaders and industry members, including Nagarjuna Akkineni, who condemned the claims.

The high-profile meeting signifies the importance of addressing the challenges faced by the Tollywood industry while managing public safety and avoiding controversies. As the industry evolves, closer collaboration between the government and Tollywood stakeholders remains vital to sustaining its growth and ensuring smoother event execution.