Pawan Kalyan’s ‘They Call Him OG’ encountered obstacles in Karnataka, where its theatrical run faced restrictions attributed to actions by some individuals pursuing personal agendas. In a statement, the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister addressed the restriction his movie faced in Karnataka and openly supported Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. Despite these challenges, ‘OG’ has achieved commercial success and positive reviews across the Telugu states.
In response to the ongoing regional tensions affecting film distribution, Pawan Kalyan, the lead actor of ‘OG’ and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has taken a public stand urging unity within the film industry.
Amid calls to boycott or restrict Kannada films such as ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ in the Telugu states, Pawan Kalyan has openly supported the ticket price hike for ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ in Andhra Pradesh. He clarified that he does not endorse retaliatory measures against films from other languages, even as his own project has faced challenges in neighbouring states.
In a statement, Pawan Kalyan remarked, “Cinema, music, sports, and cultural arts have no boundaries of language, region, caste, or religion. Their core purpose is to entertain and connect people from all walks of life. It is unfortunate that some individuals, driven by personal agendas, have tried to block the screening of OG in theatres across Karnataka. In response, some voices have now begun to suggest that Kannada films like ‘Kantara’ should be restricted in our Telugu states. I do not support this thinking.”
He further stated, “Art and cinema must spread joy, bridge cultures, and bring people together, not drive them apart. Every individual has the right to watch the film they love. If you don’t like a film, you can choose not to watch it – but using personal hate or agendas to target films is simply unacceptable. Today, Indian cinema is being celebrated across the globe in every language. At a time like this, any attempt to confine art within regional limits must be strongly rejected. Let us support good films, wherever they come from.”
Pawan Kalyan’s support for the ticket hike for ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’, even as ‘OG’ confronted barriers, reflected his approach to art and cinema as vehicles for unity rather than division.
‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ will release in theatres on October 2.
– Ends