Adipurush controversies: Prabhas film opening marred by series of violent incidents

Telugu superstar Prabhas' latest movie Adipurush opened to a shattering response at the box office However, its grand release has been overshadowed by a series of controversies and violent incidents that unfolded during its release. The fervour surrounding the film has escalated to alarming levels, resulting in incidents of assault, vandalism, and self-harm.

One of the incidents that caught the national attention was the assault of an audience member in Hyderabad. When a movie-goer criticised Adipurush while talking to the media outside the theatres, he became the target of enraged fans. The unidentified individual was assaulted by the fans leaving him shaken. 

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 "I'm not angry with them. I pity them. Because the fans, who were so eager to watch their hero in the get-up of Lord Rama, were disappointed. And when they saw me genuinely saying that the film is bad, they got upset. They didn't know at whom they should take out their frustration, so they attacked me," said the guy, who was thrashed by the fans, later. 

In another disturbing incident, a theatre in Hyderabad fell victim to vandalism by disgruntled fans who were dissatisfied with the faulty sound system. Videos circulating online showed a group of moviegoers engaging in acts of destruction, breaking window glass, and causing mayhem on the theatre premises.

Adding to the chaos, an altercation erupted between audience members when a man allegedly occupied the seat reserved symbolically for Lord Hanuman. Director Om Raut had requested fans to keep a seat reserved for the deity during the pre-release event, but the situation escalated when someone allegedly disregarded the reserved seat, leading to violence inside the crowded theatre.

Another video showed a die-hard Prabhas fan seemingly in a trance-like state repeatedly cutting his forearm with a broken bear bottle. 

The controversies surrounding Adipurush continue to escalate, intensifying the already existing turmoil. With mounting outrage, the filmmakers find themselves engulfed in an unprecedented public relations crisis. Criticism has been directed towards the portrayal of the iconic characters from Ramayan in the movie, sparking widespread discontent among the audience.

Besides Prabhas, the film also stars Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan.