Balagam Director Venu Yeldandi Faces Trolling on Social Media

Director Venu Yeldandi, who won acclaim for his National Award-winning film Balagam, has recently come under social media criticism. The director had earlier received widespread appreciation after the first glimpse and title of his next film Yellamma were unveiled. His light-hearted banter with the film’s hero and composer Devi Sri Prasad on social media had also caught attention.

However, the mood shifted after Venu Yeldandi shared a few pictures on X from a temple location in Telangana. In the images, the director is seen wearing shoes while standing at the temple premises, which triggered criticism from several users. Many questioned how he could step onto a temple structure wearing footwear, stating that it hurt religious sentiments.

While the trolling gained momentum, members of the film fraternity pointed out that the film is currently under production and that electrical cables and technical equipment are often laid across temple floors during shoots. For safety reasons, wearing shoes in such circumstances is not uncommon. Nevertheless, some felt that sharing such images publicly may have been avoidable, given the sensitivity associated with religious spaces.

Despite the controversy, the shooting of Yellamma is progressing steadily. The film stars Devi Sri Prasad in the lead and is directed by Venu Yeldandi. It is being produced by Dil Raju and is reportedly being made on a lavish budget.