Kannada and Tamil actors feel insulted' at Santosham Awards

The Santosham South Indian Film Awards, organized by Suresh Kondeti, a reporter claiming ties to Chiranjeevi and the Mega family, has stirred controversy following an event in Goa. Allegations of disrespect toward Kannada celebrities and mismanagement at the ceremony have sparked outrage among social media users, pointing fingers at the Telugu film industry and the Mega family for the perceived debacle.

Reportedly, the event faced a sudden halt during the recognition of Kannada film industry stars. Lights were switched off as Ramesh Aravind took the stage, prompting the departure of the anchor and urging Kannada actors to leave. Additionally, various celebrities encountered issues during hotel check-out due to unsettled dues.

Netizens expressed dismay over the alleged disrespect toward the Kannada film industry at an event purportedly aimed at celebrating all four South Indian film industries. Calls for industry solidarity and boycotts of similar events emerged on social media platforms.

Allu Aravind, producer and relative of Chiranjeevi, distanced both the Mega family and the Telugu film industry from the awards show, asserting that the journalist's actions were solely his responsibility. He emphasized that clicking pictures with the reporter did not imply representation or endorsement.

Seeking to address the issues raised, Suresh Kondeti issued an apology, clarifying that the event was his personal initiative without ties to the Telugu industry. He acknowledged a communication gap and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to the Kannada and Tamil communities. He attributed the challenges faced during accommodation arrangements for over 1200 celebrities to the complexities of organizing a large-scale event, emphasizing that mistakes were unintentional.