The Telangana government has announced the cessation of all ‘benefit shows’ for movies across the state. The decision follows a tragic stampede incident at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule,’ which resulted in the death of a woman and left her son critically injured. The announcement was made to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The ban on benefit shows comes as part of broader regulations on early screenings and ticket pricing, with Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy stating, ‘We are putting an end to benefit shows to ensure public safety.’
What did Chief Minister Revanth Reddy say?
The policy shift was discussed in detail by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during a session in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on December 21, where he also addressed the controversial arrest of actor Allu Arjun linked to the Sandhya Theatre incident.
CM Revanth Reddy criticized the behavior of film personalities, including Allu Arjun, following the incident. He highlighted a perceived lack of empathy and responsibility from the film fraternity.
‘Allu Arjun did not suffer any injury on his hand or leg in an accident, but film personalities went to his house to console him. But none of these personalities came to the hospital to express solidarity to the boy, who is still battling for life in the hospital,’ Mr. Reddy stated in the Assembly.
The CM was responding to the concerns raised by AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi about the incident and the government’s response.
The Chief Minister further elucidated the sequence of events leading to the stampede, explaining how Allu Arjun’s visit to the theatre, against police advice, resulted in uncontrollable crowds. Despite the chaos and the tragic death, Reddy pointed out that the actor, along with other film stars, did not visit the injured boy in the hospital, calling this an ‘inhuman’ response from those who are often idolized by the public.
Moreover, the Chief Minister criticized the political support Allu Arjun received post-arrest, targeting former Ministers like KT Rama Rao of BRS, questioning their priorities when public safety and human lives are at stake. He emphasized that the government would not grant privileges to the film industry if such incidents recur, underlining the equality before the law for all, including celebrities.