Speaking to the media outside the hospital, Komatireddy stated that Revathi, along with her husband and son, had attended the premiere show of Pushpa-2 when the situation spiraled out of control. "The arrival of Allu Arjun caused a stampede. Revathi and her son were trampled in the chaos. Unfortunately, Revathi lost her life, while Sritej is in a critical condition," he explained.
The minister criticized the filmmakers, particularly Allu Arjun, and alleged that despite the tragic situation unfolding outside, neither the actor nor the producers showed any empathy for the victims. “Even when the ACP advised them to leave because of the deteriorating situation outside, they ignored the warning. The actor and his team watched the entire film, and later, Allu Arjun waved to fans from the rooftop of his vehicle,” Komatireddy said.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the film’s team for disregarding police instructions. "The film crew arrived at the theatre without police permission. Along with the actor’s convoy, several bouncers were present and pushed the audience aside. This led to a situation where, despite warnings from the authorities, the filmmakers proceeded with the premiere."
In light of the incident, Komatireddy announced a halt to all benefit shows, which are often held to support charitable causes. "From now on, benefit shows will not be permitted," he declared. "We will carefully review all future requests for film premieres, especially regarding ticket price hikes, regardless of the budget spent on a film. We will assess whether the film delivers a meaningful message to the public."
The minister further emphasized that the government will now only allow ticket price increases for films based on certain criteria, such as those addressing societal issues, historical events, or the Telangana movement. He expressed concern about the impact of such films on youth, saying, "Instead of spending three and a half hours watching a film, I could be doing something more productive. After watching these films, our youth might get spoiled."
Komatireddy also made it clear that he would refrain from watching films unless they focused on themes like historical events, deities, or regional movements. “From now on, I have decided not to watch films unless they are about deities, historical events, kings, or the Telangana movement,” he said. "I believe these kinds of films serve a purpose. The rest, unfortunately, don't."
This announcement comes in the wake of growing concerns about the safety of large public gatherings at film premieres, and Minister Komatireddy’s statement sends a clear message about the government’s stance on such events moving forward.
