CM Revanth Reddy announces no benefit shows & special concessions for Tollywood
Hyderabad: On December 21, 2024, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced that his government will no longer permit benefit shows or offer special incentives to the film industry. This decision comes after a tragic stampede at the Sandhya Theatre during the premiere screening of “Pushpa 2: The Rule,” which resulted in the death of a woman and left a boy seriously injured.
Addressing the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Saturday, CM Revanth Reddy declared, “As long as I am the Chief Minister, no benefit shows will be allowed in Telangana. There will also be no special concessions for the film industry.”
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also criticised actor Allu Arjun for his alleged indifference to the tragedy. Despite being informed about the stampede incident, the actor reportedly remained at the theatre instead of addressing the situation. AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi added fuel to the controversy, claiming that when Allu Arjun was informed of the stampede, he remarked, “Now the movie will be a hit,” a comment that has sparked public outrage.
The incident led to the death of Revathi, the mother of Sritej. Revathi was seen gripping her son’s hand so tightly that police had difficulty separating them. The family, which earns ₹30,000 a month, had spent ₹3,000 on tickets for the screening due to their son’s admiration for Allu Arjun.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also questioned the film industry’s support for the actor, asking, “Did his hand or leg break? Why is the industry supporting him instead of focusing on the victims?”
In response to the tragedy, the government has announced financial assistance of Rs. 25 lakhs to Sritej’s family. Minister for Cinematography Komatireddy Venkatreddy visited Sritej at KIMS Hospital, where Revathi is undergoing treatment, and expressed his solidarity with the family.
The minister assured them of the government’s full support, adding that Telangana would not allow further benefit shows or price hikes for movie tickets.
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲: 𝐍𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 or 𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲
In the aftermath of the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule, which claimed a woman’s life and left a… pic.twitter.com/YwYzNOTJyC
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) December 21, 2024
