Telangana Government Cracks Down on Benefit Shows

The Telangana government has announced a ban on benefit shows for movies following the tragic stampede at the premiere of "Pushpa 2: The Rule" in Hyderabad. This decision comes after a woman lost her life and her son was injured in the chaos. Minister for Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy made this announcement in the Assembly, emphasizing the need for safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The government will continue to support the film industry through special incentives, but actors will no longer be allowed to visit theaters without permission. The rates of cinema tickets will also remain unchanged, despite previous exceptions for big-budget movies featuring top stars. The Chief Minister criticized actor Allu Arjun for visiting the theater despite police denial and conducting a roadshow, which exacerbated the situation.

The government has taken responsibility for the treatment of the injured child, Sri Teja, and provided compensation to the family of the deceased. Komatireddy Venkat Reddy visited the hospital and handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family. The government assures that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents and will review requests for enhancing cinema ticket prices on a case-to-case basis.

This move aims to prioritize public safety and prevent unnecessary risks associated with benefit shows. The government's decision may impact upcoming movie releases, including the Ram Charan starrer "Game Changer," scheduled for January.