#BoycottBhairavam Trends in Tollywood, Director Issues Apology Amid Backlash

As Tollywood grapples with dwindling box office numbers and falling theatre attendance, controversy has erupted around the upcoming film Bhairavam, directed by Vijay Kanakamedala. A political remark made by the director during a promotional event in Eluru has triggered widespread backlash, sparking the trending hashtag #BoycottBhairavam on social media.

The film, slated for release on May 30, stars Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, Manchu Manoj, and Nara Rohith in lead roles. At the event, Kanakamedala said, “There is always someone to protect Dharma. Exactly one year ago, someone came to do that. Similarly, Kala Bhairava will appear in our film to protect Dharma.” Many interpreted this as a politically charged statement, alluding to recent developments in Andhra Pradesh’s political landscape—an interpretation that did not sit well with supporters of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), who quickly took to social media to voice their criticism.

Veteran producer M. S. Raju weighed in on the issue, saying, “I’d steer clear of political commentary at film events. But everyone has the right to express themselves, and if there’s backlash, it has to be dealt with.”

Before the controversy could settle, it escalated further when an old, morphed image mocking megastars Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan resurfaced online. Originally posted in 2011 from Kanakamedala’s Facebook account, the image, styled after a poster of Amitabh Bachchan’s Paa, also involved producer Allu Aravind. This ignited outrage among mega fans, who began trolling the director and amplifying calls to boycott Bhairavam.

In response, Kanakamedala posted a clarification on X (formerly Twitter): “Since the trailer launch of Bhairavam, I’ve been targeted by trolls. I was surprised to learn that mega fans, who have always supported me, started attacking me over a 2011 post. Something is wrong—I believe my account was hacked. I’ve worked with several mega heroes, including Gabbar Singh with Pawan Kalyan, and I maintain a good rapport with Sai Dharam Tej. I grew up watching Chiranjeevi Garu and Power Star Garu. Why would I disrespect them? Still, I take full responsibility since it was my account, and I sincerely apologize to all mega fans. I’ll ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

This is not the first time a Tollywood film has faced online backlash with political undertones. Actor Vishwak Sen’s Laila came under fire after character actor Prithvi Raj made controversial comments likening 11 MLAs to goats. Despite apologies, the film flopped at the box office.

However, M. S. Raju remains skeptical about the actual impact of boycott campaigns: “I don’t think these social media trends seriously affect box office results. Look at Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan—it faced similar boycott calls but went on to become a top grosser. Ultimately, content is king. The Telugu audience is discerning—they’ll embrace quality and reject mediocrity, regardless of online noise.”