1 month ago
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Megastar Chiranjeevi has lauded composer Thaman for raising the critical issue of fan wars, negative trolls, and harsh comments on social media that are damaging Telugu cinema. In a heartfelt message, Chiranjeevi wrote, “Dear Thaman, your words yesterday touched my heart. I was surprised that someone as cheerful as you carried such deep sorrow. It is clear that you spoke from a place of frustration and anguish.” He further urged social media users to recognize the impact of their words, stating, “Be it about cinema, cricket, or any other issue, everyone on social media must consider the consequences their comments can have on individuals.”
Earlier, at the Daaku Maharaaj event, Thaman expressed his frustration, lamenting that while technicians from other industries are eager to work in Telugu cinema, fan wars and trolling are ruining it. “You can have fan wars, but it’s our responsibility to respect our producers and cinema. These trolls, negative hashtags, and trends are becoming unbearable,” he said.
Big-budget films like Guntur Kaaram, Bhola Shankar, Kalki 2898 AD, Devara, Pushpa: The Rule, Daaku Maharaaj, and Game Changer have all been targeted with scornful comments. Sharing his views, director Hemanth Madhukar said, “I watched Game Changer four days after its release and enjoyed it. Honestly, there was nothing in it worth mocking. Earlier, people would simply like or dislike a film, but now trolling has become an ugly weapon to demean movies, putting the survival of Telugu cinema at risk.”
Hemanth also noted that trolls and memes often arise from hidden agendas. “Sometimes, a small group decides the fate of a film by influencing audiences negatively. They attack teasers, trailers, visuals, dialogues, and VFX based on a mere two-minute preview. This creates hesitation among viewers, affecting box-office openings,” he explained.
In the past, traditional media reviewed films after their release, but today, anonymous individuals with little knowledge tarnish cinema with premature judgments. “Instagram and Twitter users post nasty comments, mock actors, and ridicule movies. If someone dislikes a film, that’s fine, but the problem lies with those who spread negativity out of bias or vested interests, confusing audiences,” Hemanth added.
He also highlighted a double standard in how derogatory remarks are handled. “If a prominent figure like RGV mocks politicians, he faces action. Yet, anonymous trolls get away with using offensive language, likening actors to animals, and hurling cuss words. We urge social media platforms to take stricter action against such miscreants, or else this negativity will worsen and drastically hurt box-office collections.”
Fan wars, he pointed out, have existed since the days of Rajinikanth-Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi-Balakrishna rivalries. “Back then, they were relatively healthy. Today, however, fan wars on social media have crossed all boundaries of decency, targeting superstars with scorn and disrespect. Rivalry can be healthy, but demeaning rival stars is unacceptable,” he concluded.
English (US) ·