’No compromise on law and order’: Revanth Reddy to Telugu film body amid Pushpa 2 row

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad, December 26, 2024: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy told Telugu movie actors, directors and producers that there will be no compromise with regards to law and order in the state. This comes as representatives of the Telugu film industry met Revanth Reddy amid row over stampede at Sandhya theatre during the premier of Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa 2’.

CM Reddy urged the film industry to promote investments in the state and support the anti-drugs campaign.

Film producers Suresh Baby, KL Narayana, Damodhar, BVSN Prasad, Chinna Babu, Sudhakar Reddy, film directors Kortala Siva, Anil Ravipudi, K Raghavendra Rao, Prashanth Varma and Nagarjuna, Shiva Balaji, Venkatesh were among those who met the Telangana CM at ICCC building in Hyderabad today.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister for Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy were also present at the meeting.

What Revanth Reddy said during the meeting?

The Telangana Chief Minister assured support to the Telugu film industry while asserting that members of the industry should have acted responsibly with respect to the stampede which resulted in the death of a woman on December 4.

Following the meeting, Dil Raju, FD Chairman said that the CM spoke to the film industry about the need to work together with the government. Hyderabad should become a venue to shoot not just Indian Cinema but also Hollywood, the chief minister told film industry representatives while enquiring about the kind of arrangements that are needed to develop that kind of infrastructure.

He added, “One of the best meeting with the CM with the industry. We thank him for his support and vision to take Telugu cinema to new heights. There will be another meeting with proposals next."

Responding to Congress government’s reaction to the situation, BJP MP Anurag Thakur said that some people are trying to pull down Telugu actors.

“If you look at the contribution of Telugu actors in the film industry, they have put the film and Indian cinema on the global map. If you look at the last few years, Allu Arjun got the National Award in Narendra Modi’s government, Chiranjeevi got the Lifetime Achievement Award and their contribution has been appreciated by the whole country and the world. On the other hand, look at the films, whether it is RRR, Pushpa, KGF, Baahubali all of them have brought fame to Indian cinema. I think instead of creating controversy, efforts should be made to have a dialogue, take care of safety and not do politics."

BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that Revanth Reddy-led Congress government is targeting Tollywood because “Telugu superstars and film producers have reportedly refused to comply with the CM’s attempts to exert control and extract money from them".

Something troubling is unfolding in Telangana under the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government. The administration appears to be targeting Tollywood, one of India’s largest and most vibrant film industries, allegedly because Telugu superstars and film producers have refused to…

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 25, 2024

Elaborating on events that display “harassment" by government, Malviya added, “This situation in Telangana serves as a stark reminder for those who view Congress as a defender of free speech and expression. The party’s actions suggest otherwise, revealing a pattern of extortion and coercion that targets livelihoods and reputations in its quest for power and wealth."