Maverick director Ram Gopal Varma described it as ridiculous the decision of the Telangana government to ban special shows or premiere shows of any film in theatre in the coming days, in the wake of the tragic death of a women in a stampede-like situation outside Sandhya theater during a benefit show for the movie Pushpa-2.
Varma said blaming Allu Arjun for the incident is absurd. He criticized the ban on benefit shows, comparing it to banning traffic on roads to avoid accidents.
He pointed out that stampedes are not uncommon in large gatherings and noted that the Sandhya Theater incident was not the first of its kind.
He even shared a Wikipedia link listing past incidents where tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people lost their lives in stampedes.
Varma said the police investigation would reveal the exact cause of the stampede.
If the theatre management’s negligence is proven, holding them accountable and arresting them is justified. However, he questioned the rationale behind holding Allu Arjun responsible for the tragedy.
The ace director explained the original purpose of benefit shows, stating that they were traditionally organized to raise funds for charity during natural calamities or other crises. The proceeds from such shows were donated for a cause.
In contrast, he criticized the current trend of benefit shows as being primarily motivated by profit. He noted that these shows are aimed at capitalizing on the hype and craze around a movie.
According to him, calling these screenings “benefit shows” is misleading; instead, they should be referred to as “special shows.”
Drawing an analogy, Varma explained that just as special tea or meals cost more due to their unique preparation, special shows can charge higher ticket prices because they provide audiences an exclusive opportunity to watch a movie before its official release.
