Hyderabad: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of ‘Pushpa-2’ on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.

The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.

Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.

A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.

He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.

Allu Arjun’s staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.

The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman’s death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don’t harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.

The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.

However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.

Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.

Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.

The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.

Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.

What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.

He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun’s team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.

Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.

The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.

“This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry,” he said.

However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.

The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.

Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.

“Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time,” Kumar said on X.

Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.

New Delhi: “Laapataa Ladies”, India’s official entry in the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, is out of the Oscars race.

The Hindi film, directed by Kiran Rao, is not part of the shortlist of 15 features that will be vying for a spot in the final five, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced on Wednesday morning.

However, British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s “Santosh”, starring Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, representing the UK, has made it to list that also includes France’s “Emilia Pérez”, “I’m Still Here” (Brazil), “Universal Language” (Canada), “Waves” (Czech Republic), “The Girl with the Needle” (Denmark), and “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from Germany.

The other contenders in the category are “Touch” (Iceland), “Kneecap” (Ireland), “Vermiglio” (Italy), “Flow” (Latvia), “Armand” (Norway), “From Ground Zero” (Palestine), “Dahomey” (Senegal), and “How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies” (Thailand).

The final Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17.

According to the Academy, 85 countries or regions had submitted films that were eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards.

“Santosh”, which marks Suri’s feature directorial debut, revolves around a newly widowed housewife (Goswami) who inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable and becomes embroiled in the investigation of a young girl’s murder.

India’s official entry “Laapataa Ladies” (“Lost Ladies” in English) is a gently subversive feminist drama which is set in rural India in the early 2000s. Sneha Desai wrote the screenplay and dialogues of “Laapataa Ladies”, based on a story by Biplab Goswami. Divyanidhi Sharma penned additional dialogues.

It follows two brides who get swapped on the day of their wedding during a train ride. It stars Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta as the brides Phool and Jaya, respectively, with Sparsh Shrivastav playing the hapless groom in search of his wife.

Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan, and Geeta Agrawal Sharma also round out its cast.

“Laapataa Ladies”, which had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), released in theatres on March 1 to great reviews. It is backed by Rao’s Kindling Productions, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios.

In September, the Film Federation of India (FFI) unanimously chose “Laapataa Ladies” as India’s official entry to the Oscars from a list of 29 films, including Bollywood hit “Animal”, Malayalam National Award winner “Aattam” and Cannes winner “All We Imagine As Light”.

At the time, the 13-member all-male jury of FFI courted controversy on social media for their citation about the film. Many on social media said the brief went against the message the film was trying to convey.

The citation by the federation read: “Indian women are a strange mixture of submission and dominance. Well-defined, powerful characters in one world, a Laapataa Ladies (Hindi) captures this diversity perfectly, though in a semi-idyllic world and in a tongue-in-cheek way.”

Besides “Santosh”, “Anuja” is another film with an Indian connect that has advanced to the next stage of the Oscars. It is one of the 15 films to be selected in the Live Action Short category.

The New Delhi-set short film follows a gifted nine-year-old Anuja, who must make a choice between education and factory work alongside her sister – a decision that will shape both their futures. It stars Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag.

“Anuja” is directed by Adam J Graves and Suchitra Mattai, and has two-time Oscar winning producer Guneet Monga on board as executive producer and Hollywood star-writer Mindy Kaling as producer.

On Wednesday morning, the Academy also announced shortlists in eight other categories: Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, and Sound and Visual Effects.

“Lagaan”, set in the pre-independence era, was the last Indian film to enter the top five nominations in the best international feature film category (formerly called best foreign film) at Oscars 2002.

Only two other films have previously made it to the final five and they are the Nargis-starrer “Mother India” and Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!”

Last year, “Naatu Naatu”, the peppy, foot-tapping chartbuster from SS Rajamouli’s Telugu period action film “RRR”, won the Academy Award in the best original song category along with “The Elephant Whisperers”, directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, winning the Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Film category.

Late night host and comedian Conan O’Brien will host the Academy Awards on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Noted Malayalam film and serial actor Meghanadhan, known for his villainous roles, passed away at a hospital here in the early hours of Thursday, according to film industry sources.

He was 60.

He died at 2 am while undergoing treatment for respiratory-related ailments, they said.

Meghanadhan was the son of the renowned actor Balan K Nair.

He appeared in over 50 films, including notable works such as Chamayam, Chenkol, and Ee Puzhayum Kadannu.

Meghanadhan began his acting career in 1983 with the film Astram, directed by P N Menon.

He gained prominence by portraying villainous roles in Malayalam cinema.

New Delhi: Telugu star Allu Arjun, who launched the trailer of his upcoming film “Pushpa 2: The Rule” in Patna on Sunday, expressed gratitude to fans for showering their love on him by turning up in huge numbers for the event.

“Pushpa 2” is directed by Sukumar and also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil.

The trailer of the much-awaited sequel to 2021’s “Pushpa: The Rise” was unveiled at the jam-packed Gandhi Maidan in the Bihar capital. Also present at the event was Rashmika, who plays Srivalli to Arjun’s gangster Pushpa Raj.

It was Arjun’s first visit to Bihar.

“I am grateful to all of you for your love and warm welcome,” he said at the event.

“Pushpa kabhi jhukega nahin, lekin aaj pehli baar, aapke pyaar ke liye jhukega (Pushpa will never bow down in front of anyone, but for the first time, he will bow down only for your love)” the National Award winner said in reference to his popular dialogue from the 2021 original film.

“Thank you Patna, you have given me a lot of love,” Arjun said as he asked the audience to forgive him for his “thoda galat” (poor) Hindi speaking skills.

A stampede-like situation erupted at the venue before the trailer launch began following which police resorted to a mild lathicharge to control the crowd.

Videos of a section of spectators from the same event hurling slippers towards the stage also started circulating on social media on Sunday evening.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings with music on T-Series, “Pushpa 2” will be released on December 5.

Marathi actor Atul Parchure

Mumbai: Well-known Marathi actor Atul Parchure, known for his comic roles, died at a private hospital here on Monday, family sources said.

Parchure (57), who had recently recovered from cancer, was about to make a comeback on stage but suddenly developed health complications and his condition worsened in the last two days, the sources said.

He started his career as a child actor and soon rose to fame with roles in plays such as “Tarun Turk, Mhatare Ark” and “Nati Goti”.

Parchure also acted in a host of Marathi and Hindi TV serials and films.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar took to social media platform X to express their condolences.

Shinde condoled Parchure’s untimely death on behalf of the state government and called himself one among thousands of the senior actor’s fans.

“The news of his death was painful,” the CM said, adding the Marathi theatre and cinema has lost a talented actor.

Film actor Bala

Kochi: Film actor Bala was arrested by the police early on Monday following a complaint filed by his ex-wife, a singer, and their daughter.

Police said the charges include defamation via social media, insulting womanhood, and cruelty towards children.

Bala was taken into custody from his home early on Monday.

He is expected to be produced before a court soon, police said.

Malayalam actor Sidhique

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Malayalam film actor Sidhique in a rape case registered against him based on a complaint by an actress.

“Application is dismissed,” Justice C S Dias said.

The detailed order giving reasons for rejecting the actor’s plea is not yet available.

Sidhique, who was booked for offences under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation), has claimed in his plea that the complainant female actor, has subjected him to the “prolonged campaign of harassment and false accusations since 2019”.

In his anticipatory bail plea, he further claimed that she had repeatedly, for the past five years, made unsubstantiated and false claims of sexual misbehaviour and ‘verbal sexual offers’ by him in a theatre in 2016.

“But now she has raised totally contradictory allegation of more serious crime of rape at a different place in the same year,” he had said in his plea.

Sidhique had resigned from his post as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations against him.

Multiple FIRs have been registered against many high-profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.

The committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.

Malayalam film actor Nivin Pauly

Kochi: Actor Nivin Pauly was on Tuesday booked for the offence of rape on a complaint by a 40-year-old woman that he sexually assaulted her over a year ago in Dubai, police said.

An officer of Oonnukal police station, where the FIR under section 376 of the IPC was registered, said that there are six accused, including a woman, in the case.

The first accused is a woman and Pauly is the sixth accused, the officer said.

According to the woman, the incident occurred over a year ago in Dubai, the officer said, and declined to give further details.

Pauly is among the many actors and directors who are facing allegations of sexual harassment or rape by female actors following the publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report.

The committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.

New Delhi: The government has summoned the content head of OTT platform Netflix over the series ‘IC-814 — The Kandahar Hijack’, which has triggered a row over depiction of hijackers.

Official sources said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has summoned the content head of Netflix India on Tuesday, seeking an explanation on the allegedly contentious aspects of the OTT series.

The depiction of hijackers of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi has kicked off a row with a section of viewers objecting to the ‘humane’ projection of the perpetrators.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said the hijackers of IC-814 were dreaded terrorists, who acquired aliases to hide their Muslim identities.

“Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, legitimised their criminal intent, by furthering their non-Muslim names,” Malviya posted on X.

“Decades later, people will think Hindus hijacked IC-814,” he said.

“Left’s agenda to whitewash the crimes of Pakistani terrorists, all Muslims, served. This is the power of cinema, which the Communists have been using aggressively, since the 70s. Perhaps even earlier,” Malviya said.

“This will not just weaken / put in question India’s security apparatus in the long run, but also shift the blame away from the religious cohort, that is responsible for all the bloodshed,” he said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was really amusing to see the people who took movies like ‘Kashmir Files’ as the gospel truth having a melt down at the way the events of IC814 are depicted in the Netflix show.

“Now suddenly they want accuracy and nuance packaged in the script,” Abdullah said on X.

Malayalam actor M Mukesh

Kochi (PTI): A rape case has been registered against prominent Malayalam actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh following a female actor’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her years ago, police said on Thursday.

An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against the actor at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night, a police officer said.

The case was registered under the IPC as the offence allegedly occurred before the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita came to force, he said.

This is the third FIR against a high profile Malayalam film personality following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.

On Wednesday, Thiruvananthapuram museum police had booked actor Sidhique for allegedly raping an actress in a hotel eight years ago.

The first case, under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty), was against director Ranjith on a complaint by a female actor from West Bengal regarding an incident which occurred in 2009.

She had alleged that the director had touched her inappropriately with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the movie Paleri Manikyam.

Following the allegation by the actor, Ranjith had resigned from his post as chairman of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy.

Sidhique had also resigned as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations against him.

The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Amidst allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.

Subsequently, more complaints surfaced.