Telangana government announced that there would be no more benefit shows for films in the state.
This decision follows the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre on December 4 during the premiere of Pushpa 2, where a woman lost her life in a stampede and her son was critically injured and is currently battling for his life.
However, many argue that the government is not addressing the root cause of the incident.
The stampede reportedly occurred because actor Allu Arjun visited the theater without informing the local police station, which could have deployed additional forces to ensure crowd safety.
Even if benefit shows are canceled, similar incidents could happen during regular shows if popular actors make surprise visits to theaters.
Instead of implementing strict rules to manage such situations, canceling benefit shows seems to be more of an emotional response to public outrage rather than a thoughtful, preventive measure.
Critics are also questioning the inconsistency in government decisions.
For instance, after disturbances at the Devara pre-release event, there were statements about stricter regulations for granting permissions. Yet, permissions were still granted for Pushpa 2’s pre-release event.
This inconsistency has fueled public criticism that the government often changes its policies to accommodate specific interests.
Additionally, questions are being raised about why the government holds authority over ticket price increases for films, which are not essential commodities.
In Karnataka, filmmakers have the freedom to set ticket prices. Many believe the Telangana government’s control over pricing reflects an attempt to maintain influence over prominent film personalities.
Another contentious issue is the special permissions granted for midnight or early-morning shows of big-ticket films.
Critics argue that if such allowances can be made for cinema, why can’t other businesses operate 24/7? For instance, in places like Singapore’s Mustafa Mall, businesses remain open around the clock based on demand.
The argument is that all businesses should be allowed the same flexibility to operate if they have customers, instead of preferential treatment being given solely to the film industry.
This inconsistent and incident-driven approach by Revanth Reddy’s government has drawn widespread criticism on social media and in media circles, with many accusing the administration of lacking a policy-driven framework.
1736674314.jpg)
