In a shocking turn of events, Allu Arjun’s latest hit Pushpa: The Rise inspired a group of teenagers to commit a crime in Delhi. The three teenagers allegedly stabbed a man to death in the capital city on January 19, according to Indian Express. 

They were so fascinated by Allu Arjun’s character in the film that they started copying his look and mannerisms. And wanted a life of crime for themselves. Besides Pushpa, web series Bhaukaal too fascinated them. 

Police revealed that the victim was first beaten up by the three boys and then stabbed to death after he objected to them playing gilli danda. They also filmed their heinous crime and were about to upload it on Instagram to become “popular”. The victim has been identified as a 24-year-old man named Shibu Hussain. 

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DCP (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said, “CCTVs near the spot were scanned and our team managed to apprehend the three boys within 12 hours. We feel we reached in time; the boys were about to post the video online. I saw it and it was brutal. We found that they were inspired by movies and wanted more followers on social media. They also wished to ‘inspire’ their friends by this act…”

During the interrogation, the three boys revealed that they had recently watched Pushpa and Bhaukaal and “also followed many gangsters on social media. They wanted the same life. They didn’t seem afraid of being arrested; they believe they will be released in 3-6 months and can go back home,” an officer said. 

Police also said that they were active on Instagram and often posted reels where they lip synced to Bollywood songs. In many posts they can be seen hurling abuses and talking about violence and guns. 

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Reacting to the news, several people on social media called out films for glorifying violence. 

One user tweeted, “So much glorified violence these days in movies. At least earlier the “bad” guys got punished nowadays they get rewarded.”

Journalist and film critic Namrata Joshi tweeted, “Saying this the nth time & it’s sure to fall on deaf ears once again. All those who keep saying “but this is the reality”, how can cinema not show the negatives/problems in the society? Well, there is a difference between portraying the real for what it is & GLORIFYING it!” 

She further wrote, “It’s not one criminal case that I would hold #Pushpa accountable for but how it seeps in, in a larger and more insidious ways. The pathology of success and the pathology of entertainment and the pathology of media celebrating it!”

Another tweeted, “Also, the mindless justification "but this is what the ppl want"...so stupid! Cinema CAN be entertaining AND worthwhile, imparting a message without being preachy. Kumbalangi Nights, Cinemabandi, and Mandela are case in point.” 

One person alleged that Allu Arjun’s whole filmography is problematic in the same sense, “Thanks for highlighting this.. there’s one thing call mirroring the reality and other is glorifying. Allu Arjun’s filmography boasts of such problematic depiction and Pushpa is no different.Yes, it’s technically brilliance and FaFa great as usual - bt the film is very problematic”. 

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However, on the other side, one user replied, "I don’t think movies will impact people it’s all depends on individual people who see from their perspective . Hollywood movies are brutal if that’s the case and so called humanity bearers in west has no issues with those movies ."

Another wrote, "It has less to do with cinema and more to do with ignorance and upbringing."

Take a look at some of responses below: 

So much glorified violence these days in movies. At least earlier the “bad” guys got punished nowadays they get rewarded

— Bahadur 2.0 (@my2bit) January 24, 2022

Saying this the nth time & it’s sure to fall on deaf ears once again. All those who keep saying “but this is the reality”, how can cinema not show the negatives/problems in the society? Well, there is a difference between portraying the real for what it is & GLORIFYING it! https://t.co/FhVd9M0qvY

— Namrata Joshi (@Namrata_Joshi) January 24, 2022

It’s not one criminal case that I would hold #Pushpa accountable for but how it seeps in, in a larger and more insidious ways. The pathology of success and the pathology of entertainment and the pathology of media celebrating it!

— Namrata Joshi (@Namrata_Joshi) January 24, 2022

Also, the mindless justification "but this is what the ppl want"...so stupid! Cinema CAN be entertaining AND worthwhile, imparting a message without being preachy.

Kumbalangi Nights, Cinemabandi, and Mandela are case in point.

— S G (@silverlightgal) January 24, 2022

Thanks for highlighting this.. there’s one thing call mirroring the reality and other is glorifying. Allu Arjun’s filmography boasts of such problematic depiction and Pushpa is no different.Yes, it’s technically brilliance and FaFa great as usual - bt the film is very problematic

— Arnab Tumpy (@Filmchopath) January 24, 2022

I don’t think movies will impact people it’s all depends on individual people who see from their perspective . Hollywood movies are brutal if that’s the case and so called humanity bearers in west has no issues with those movies .

— shivaji Maharaj (@shivaji0920) January 24, 2022

If not pushpa those idiots will see a gangs of wasseypur or a Sonchiriya or a City of God to get inspired.

Raise awareness to tackle the root cause instead of selectively picking films to outrage on twitter.

— wriE (@wright_ed9) January 24, 2022

Do you think movies should be held accountable for how a person watching it perceives it? Does Pushpa: The Rise glorify violence? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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