K. Raghavendra Rao Faces Social Media Criticism?
They argued that public figures should exercise greater caution, particularly in an era where videos are instantly scrutinized online.
Veteran Telugu filmmaker K. Raghavendra Rao has found himself at the center of a social media debate after a video from the launch ceremony of director Anil Ravipudi's upcoming film went viral online.
The film, starring Venkatesh Daggubati, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Keerthy Suresh, and Krithi Shetty, was formally launched in Hyderabad on Thursday. As part of the traditional muhurat ceremony, Raghavendra Rao was invited to direct the inaugural shot.
Several prominent personalities from the Telugu film industry attended the event. Producer Allu Aravind delivered the ceremonial first clap, while producers Dil Raju, D. Suresh Babu, and others were also present. However, it was a brief video clip from the ceremony that soon became the focus of online discussion.
In the viral footage, the 84-year-old filmmaker is seen arranging the actors for the opening shot. He initially holds Keerthy Suresh's hand and guides her into position before shifting his attention to Krithi Shetty and adjusting her placement for the scene. He is also seen instructing Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram on how to position their arms on the actresses' shoulders.
The clip quickly spread across social media platform X, with some users criticizing the veteran director for allegedly making unnecessary physical contact with the actresses. Several posts questioned whether such gestures were required to explain the scene, while others described the visuals as inappropriate.
Some users referred to a previous viral incident involving actress Niharika Konidela, stating that similar criticisms had surfaced in the past. They argued that public figures should exercise greater caution, particularly in an era where videos are instantly scrutinized online.
However, many others came to Raghavendra Rao's defense, contending that he was merely performing his duties as a director by positioning the actors for the inaugural shot. Supporters argued that short video clips taken out of context often lead to premature judgments and unnecessary controversies.
Reacting to the online criticism, a senior Telugu filmmaker said, "Netizens are drawing conclusions without understanding the full context. K. Raghavendra Rao has been part of the film industry for over four decades and has earned immense respect through his work. Sharing a brief edited clip and passing judgment on social media is unwarranted. If the actresses had any discomfort or objections, they would have certainly expressed them by now."