Telangana bans benefit shows after stampede at Pushpa 2 premiere kills fan

In the wake of a tragic stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule in Hyderabad, Telangana cinematography minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy announced a statewide ban on benefit shows for films. The incident, which occurred on December 4 at Sandhya Theatre, claimed the life of a woman and critically injured her young son. The minister has also promised stricter guidelines for film screenings going forward.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Komatireddy expressed his condolences to the victim's family, criticizing the film's producers and lead actor Allu Arjun for not taking adequate precautions. He said, “It is heartbreaking to see a family suffer this way. The producers and hero must support the family during this time. The father recently recovered from a liver transplant, and now his wife is gone, while his son fights for his life in the hospital.”

The minister also condemned Allu Arjun’s visit to the theatre during the premiere, stating it was unnecessary given the already massive crowd. He announced that all future visits by actors to theatres must have prior government approval and proper security arrangements. He further stated, “From now on, no benefit shows will be permitted in Telangana. Guidelines will be issued soon to ensure public safety.”

Benefit shows, a common practice in southern states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, involve early paid premieres with higher ticket prices to boost collections. The Pushpa 2 team, including Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, attended such a screening on December 4. Tragically, a chaotic crowd surge during the event led to the separation of a family, resulting in the mother’s death due to asphyxiation and the hospitalization of her son.

Following the incident, a case has been registered against the theatre management for failing to ensure adequate safety measures and against Arjun’s team for visiting the venue without prior police permission. The actor's representatives have reached out to the affected family to offer financial assistance.

The government’s decision to ban benefit shows is expected to have a significant impact on the South Indian film industry, where such events are integral to the promotion and commercial success of big-budget movies.