Telangana warns Andhra deputy CM Pawan Kalyan: Apologise for 'evil eye' remark or face film ban

Pawan Kalyan

The Telangana government has issued a stark ultimatum to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, warning that his films may not be screened in the state unless he apologises for claiming Telangana cast an “evil eye” on the Konaseema region.

The threat, delivered by Telangana’s Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, has ignited a significant political row, drawing condemnation from leaders across party lines in Hyderabad and threatening to spill over into the cultural sphere.

The controversy stems from a recent statement by Kalyan, a film star-turned-politician, who suggested that Telangana’s alleged “evil eye” had adversely affected development in Andhra’s Konaseema. The remark, as reported by TOI, was swiftly denounced as deeply offensive by Telangana’s political establishment.

“If Pawan Kalyan apologises, his movies may run for two three days in Telangana, if not they may not be screened at all. I am saying as a cinematographer minister,” Komatireddy told reporters at Gandhi Bhavan.

He characterised the deputy chief minister’s statement as “unacceptable and deeply hurtful” to the people of Telangana, noting it was especially unfortunate over a decade after the state’s formation. The minister recounted the region’s historical struggles, including issues of fluorosis, water scarcity and alleged diversion of funds to the Andhra region before bifurcation.

“With the money that came from Hyderabad, cities like Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam were developed. After all this suffering, such remarks are uncalled for,” Komatireddy stated.

While acknowledging that Kalyan is relatively new to politics and may have entered public life with good intentions, the minister insisted that statements belittling Telangana were beyond the pale. He pointedly noted that other film star-politicians from the actor’s own family, such as his brother Chiranjeevi, had never made similar controversial remarks.

The call for an apology has found widespread support within Telangana. BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Congress MLA Anirudh Reddy and BRS legislator G Jagadish Reddy have all joined the demand, presenting a united political front against what they see as a slight on the state’s dignity.

The escalating tension places the spotlight firmly on Kalyan’s next move. A refusal to apologise risks not only a deepening political feud between the two Telugu states but also a potential ban affecting the commercial release of his future films in the significant Telangana market.