Telangana Government Prohibits Future Benefit Shows Following Pushpa 2 Stampede Incident
The Telangana government has announced a ban on benefit shows across the state following a tragic stampede incident outside Sandhya Theater during the Pushpa 2 benefit show. The incident led to the death of a woman, prompting the government to take strict action.
Actor Allu Arjun expressed his grief over the incident, offering his condolences to the deceased woman’s family and announcing a financial contribution of Rs. 25 lakhs as support.
Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma also addressed the situation, calling it unfair to blame Allu Arjun for the stampede. He dismissed suggestions that stars should stop attending benefit shows or that such shows should be canceled due to the potential for accidents. Varma emphasized that stampedes are not uncommon in large gatherings and pointed out that the incident at Sandhya Theater was not the first of its kind.
Referencing stampedes that occurred in the past decade, which resulted in numerous fatalities, Varma shared a Wikipedia link detailing these incidents. He urged that the police investigation would reveal the exact cause of the stampede and emphasized that if the theater management’s negligence is discovered, appropriate action should be taken against them.
Ram Gopal Varma clarified the concept of benefit shows, stating that these events are typically organized to raise funds for natural disasters or specific causes. The profits from these shows are often donated to charitable endeavors.
He further pointed out that benefit shows are primarily a means to capitalize on a film’s popularity and audience excitement. Varma advocated for these shows to be referred to as special shows, stating that they serve a more targeted purpose than traditional benefit shows. Comparing this to special teas and meals that command higher prices due to their exclusivity, he explained the economic rationale behind the increased ticket costs for such screenings.
Overall, Varma’s insights highlighted the commercial intent behind benefit shows, while also acknowledging the social responsibility these shows often carry.
