- The Indian film industry is witnessing a renaissance of sorts by the influx of movies from the south, which is stating the obvious. Of late, some of the country’s biggest blockbusters have emanated from the south of Vindhyas, completely obliterating the earlier divide between various film industries dotting the Indian cinema landscape. Of course, the prima donna role essayed by Hindi films continues to dominate despite notable scaling up from the southern region, especially Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. Yes, Malayalam films as always have left behind an indelible mark in the national firmament. However, what is noticeable is the way the dubbed versions or pan-India films leave behind a tremendous mark. The country has witnessed this phenomenon of late.
PC: Times Of India
- The excitement usually associated with some of the biggest movies surrounding the southern region has not been restricted to a particular area but wholly embraced even in the traditional Hindi heartland too. Thus, any news associated with southern, or is it to be termed the national superstar like Allu Arjun is bound to create humongous buzz. Little wonder then that the police case and subsequent arrest of Allu Arjun not only created huge ripples across the country but also raised questions about how law enforcement agencies attempt to make an example out of celebrities. For Telangana police to charge Telugu superstar Allu Arjun with culpable homicide was not only ridiculous but also showed the skewed priorities of the police.
PC: Filmibeat
- Note that for a trial court to send him to judicial custody for 14 days was a gross miscarriage of justice. Thankfully better sense prevailed as HC granted the actor interim bail. For the uninitiated, the case as it stands is that a woman died, and a child was critically hurt in a stampede that occurred when Allu Arjun attended the opening of his blockbuster Pushpa 2. The theatre and the actor’s team say they informed the police ahead of his visit. Police say they denied him permission but that he even held a roadshow. The woman’s spouse filed a complaint basis which police shot off the FIR. Whatever the case’s merits, and however it gets decided, police neglected their obligation to manage crowds. That’s the bottom line, and we have umpteen such instances.
PC: TimesOf India
- The high-profile arrest ensured the case took a life of its own and police could escape accountability. Film audiences in most of southern India are known to break into a frenzy at star-studded movie openings, even without the presence of their idols. Even if Allu Arjun were not present, the opening of Pushpa 2 was a hugely anticipated event, and large crowds were expected at the busy Hyderabad location where Sandhya Theatre is situated. Crowd control is police work. Period. Police have increasingly become trigger-happy with FIRs on serious charges in their need to protect their shortcomings. Police forces find it all too easy to harass citizens, high-profile and ordinary. This must stop. We expect our police forces to be more accountable and concise.
