A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Telangana high court against the profits earned by Allu Arjun’s Telugu film, Pushpa: The Rule Part 2. The petitioner, advocate Narasimha Rao, who leads the Cine Prekshaka Viniyoga Darula Sangham, has claimed that the film earned more than Rs. 1,870 crore worldwide. He has argued that a portion of this profit should be used for the welfare of folk artistes and for providing subsidies to small-budget films.
The petitioner’s logic stems from the argument that the Telangana government allowed special screenings to the film, extra shows, and increased ticket prices — measures that, he believes, gave the film an unfair advantage. He, therefore, wanted the court to intervene. According to him, the profits from the enhanced ticket prices should be utilised for welfare activities such as for the construction of public theatres, the establishment of the BOT System for small films’ exhibition, and for taking effective measures in protecting the small movie makers from industry big shots.
A two-judge bench of the Telangana high court comprising acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara on March 10 acknowledged the PIL and asked the petitioner to provide more details regarding his claims. The case is under review.