The meeting with the Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy did not serve as an ice-breaker, as was widely expected, but ended up turning the heat on an already beleaguered Telugu film industry.
A 40-member delegation of Tollywood bigwigs, comprising producers, directors and actors, met the Chief Minister in Hyderabad on Thursday amid hopes of easing tensions between the Congress government and the film industry over the arrest of actor Allu Arjun in connection with a recent stampede incident at a city theatre during the premiere of his blockbuster movie “Pushpa-2” that left one woman dead and her son seriously injured.
The Chief Minister has taken a tough stand over the issue, holding the actor responsible for the tragedy, and also pulled up the entertainment industry for its misplaced priorities and its obsession with profits. He chose the floor of the assembly last week to announce that there would be "no more permissions for premier and benefit shows and increasing rates of tickets for new movie releases.”
His tough-talking has rattled Tollywood, long used to benefit from the lenient policies of successive governments in the past, and signalled the present dispensation’s hardening approach.
The industry leaders hoped that today’s meeting with the Chief Minister would help bring down the temperature and restore cordiality. It was also expected that Revanth Reddy would tone down his stridency and reconsider his decisions.
Sticks to his guns
However, the Chief Minister dug in his heels and stuck to his stand of not allowing any more concessions for movie screenings, declining to increase the rates of tickets for new releases and telling Tollywood stalwarts to fall in line and respect the law.
The CM also demanded that actors and the film industry at large participate in his government’s campaigns against drugs, support women’s safety initiatives, and promote projects such as ecotourism and temple tourism in lieu of cooperation and support from the state.
It was conveyed to the delegation in no uncertain terms that there would be no more roadshows by actors and cast members during film premieres if the police did not give permission. Actors should not insist on attending premieres if the police feel it could lead to a law and order situation, like the one that happened at Sandhya Theatre in the city on December 4.
The CM told the delegation, which included Arjun’s father and a leading producer Allu Aravind, that neither he nor his government was acting out of vengeance against the actor or the film industry and there was no intention to target anyone.
He said he was stung by the unfair amount of criticism that was directed at his government and the police over the stampede.
“Police had not given permission, still we were subjected to intense criticism and personal attacks,” he said. He also stated that the matter would not have been taken so seriously had a woman not died. He underlined that there would be no compromise on the safety and security of citizens.
“Celebrities must take responsibility for controlling the behaviour of their fans,” Revanth Reddy said. However, he assured the film industry of his government’s full support and wanted them to contribute to the progress and development of the state with a spirit of social responsibility.
Those who met the CM included actors Akkineni Nagarjuna, Daggubati Venkatesh, Murli Mohan, directors Raghavendra Rao, Trivikram Srinivas and Boyapati Srinu, producers Shyam Prasad Reddy and Daggubati Suresh Babu.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikaramarka, Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and Director General of Police Dr Jithender.
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