The political landscape of Telangana witnessed a seismic shift as Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s Congress government launched what appears to be a systematic confrontation with the Telugu film industry’s elite. Since assuming office on December 7, 2023, the new administration has initiated several high-profile actions against prominent Tollywood figures, raising questions about political motivations, diversion politics and personal vendettas.
The Nagarjuna Controversy
The first major controversy in this conflict came with the dramatic demolition of the N-Convention Centre, partially owned by Tollywood elite actor Nagarjuna Akkineni. The government’s action, justified on grounds of encroachment into the Tammidikunta lake’s Full Tank Level and buffer zone, proceeded despite ongoing court proceedings and a previous stay order. Chief Minister Reddy’s invocation of the Bhagavad Gita to justify the demolition added a distinctive religious-political dimension to the controversy, as he cited Lord Krishna’s teachings about upholding dharma without fear.
Political Intrusion into Personal Lives of Akkineni Family
The tension escalated dramatically when Telangana Minister Konda Surekha ventured into unprecedented territory by linking BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao to the high-profile divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya. Her allegations of phone tapping and blackmail against actresses marked a significant breach of the traditional boundary between political and personal matters. The subsequent industry-wide backlash, led by Nagarjuna himself and supported by Samantha’s strong public rebuke, forced the minister into a hasty retraction.
Manchu Mohan Babu Crisis
On December 10, 2024, the situation took a violent turn at Mohan Babu’s residence. The actor-politician faces attempt to murder charges following an alleged assault on journalist M Ranjith Kumar, who suffered a cheekbone fracture. The incident, rooted in a property dispute between Manchu Mohan Babu and his son Manchu Manoj, has led to a multi-state police hunt after the High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea (as per media reports). Which came as shocker to many as Mohan Babu is a senior citizen suffering medical conditions.
Allu Arjun’s Arrest
The icon star’s legal troubles emerged following a tragic incident on December 4, 2024, where a 39-year-old woman lost her life in a stampede at Sandhya theatre. The incident resulted in charges of homicide not amounting to murder against Allu Arjun, his security team, and theatre management. While initially ordered into 14-day judicial custody, the actor secured interim bail from the Telangana High Court, though intentional processing delays made Allu Arjun to spend one night in custody.
CM Revanth Reddy’s Controversial Response
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s response to the Allu Arjun case has drawn particular attention. In a provocative statement, he questioned, “Did Allu Arjun fight any India-Pakistan war?” while emphasizing that film stars have not done anything special for the nation to warrant special treatment. The Chief Minister maintained that the law must take its course, stating that everyone is equal before the law and refusing to interfere in the investigation of the “Pushpa 2” premiere tragedy.
Telangana Government Strategy
The Telangana government is focusing more on legal issues related to the Telugu film industry, and its actions also seem political. It appears to be an attempt to control big names in Tollywood. At the same time, it seems the government wants to distract people from its failures by highlighting less important issues.
Telugu Flim Industry Response
The Telugu film industry’s response has been notably muted, limited primarily to social media platforms like Twitter (X). The only significant legal action taken was Nagarjuna’s defamation case against Telangana Minister Konda Surekha, filed in October 2024, which has seen no substantial progress since its initial filing.
