PK using Bro for political mileage?

Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s latest release Bro has been in the news for dialogues and scenes that appear to mock the actor’s political opponents. A pub scene in the Samuthirakani directorial is at the centre of the problem. In it, Pawan admonishes a character named Shyambabu (played by actor Prudhvi) who dances in the pub, and tells him to do better. The contention is that Shyambabu’s dance moves and outfit recall Andhra Pradesh Minister Ambati Rambabu, who grooved in public during the Sankranti festival celebrations earlier this year. It is being argued that Pawan created the character specifically to mock the AP Minister.

In another scene, Pawan’s dialogue reminds viewers that all humans are guests on the planet and will have to die someday, they cannot enjoy power and wealth for ever. This too is being taken as an indirect warning to his political rivals that they cannot be in power for ever.

Political mileage via films

This is the first time Pawan has used films to score political points. Political strategist and entrepreneur Phani Bhushan feels the political references are deliberate attempts to gain mileage in the elections. “Pawan wants people to take him seriously and to tell them that he’s in the race. During the 2019 elections he was a diplomatic in his speech. But now he’s going all out to attack the opposition. And films are a great way to influence the audience,” he comments.
As elections are nearing more propaganda films are in the offing — Yatra 2, Prathinidhi 2, and Balakrishna’s upcoming film. There’s also a buzz that The Vaccine War, a film directed by Vivek Agnihotri, is being backed by a political outfit to highlight their work during the Pandemic.

Ambati accuses…

The collections of the film (Bro) have come down. The makers wanted to create a controversy by mocking me and push the collections. They claim that the film is a super hit, but it is an utter flop. I want to know how the producer Vishwa Prasad (an NRI) mobilised funds in the US to make this film. I question the modalities of Pawan’s remuneration too. Also, I want to caution the film’s writer Trivikram Srinivas — he has created a character (Shyambabu) and a scene to mock me. If this continues, he will have to face the consequences.

…and producer Vishwa Prasad defends

We and Zee TV have co-produced the film, so we have a clear idea of how the funds have been mobilised. We are not answerable to anyone. And on Pawan’s remuneration, that’s between our company and him. No one has any right to ask about it. All accounts are transparent. We have made a film with clean intent, and we never wanted to demean anyone.

‘No deliberate digs’

“Just because you love someone there’s no logical reason to hate someone,” comments director Mahi .V Raghav, who is directing Yatra 2, a film that talks about the political rise of present AP Chief Minister YS Jagan. “Yatra 2 is a political drama based on a politician. So obviously you have an antagonist (from the rival political party) because it’s part of the story I wanted to tell. But there’s no wilful dig at anyone,” he claims. He also doesn’t subscribe to the theory that films influence voters.  

Vishwa Prasad, the producer of Bro, claims that his film doesn’t have any political references. According to him, the character of Shyambabu was added to infuse humour into the film. “It’s just a character. His dance moves are for fun and entertainment and we never had any intentions to target anyone,” he says, describing the on-going debate as ‘situational controversy.’

‘Film industry in danger’

The current controversy involving Pawan Kalyan and Ambati Rambabu doesn’t look as if it will end any time soon. Commenting on the subject, senior political analyst Bhandaru Srinivas Rao says it has become common now for actor-politicians to use films to score political points.

“This is a depressing trend and the ethics and values in politics have come down drastically. General audiences feel that politics have stooped to such a low that films are being used to get political mileage. Such things will impact the film industry as it will soon be divided too,” says Srinivas.