Pawan Kalyan’s move to support the Kannada film comes after his own They Call Him OG faced hurdles in Karnataka.
September 30, 2025: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and prominent Telugu star Pawan Kalyan has taken a strong, principled stand against regionalism in cinema, publicly supporting a request to raise ticket prices for the upcoming Kannada film Kantara: Chapter 1 in Andhra Pradesh. This move comes despite his own recently released film, They Call Him OG, facing theatrical restrictions in parts of Karnataka due to “personal agendas.”
The actor-politician’s blockbuster, They Call Him OG, has been a major box office success, but its run was hampered in Karnataka by certain individuals attempting to block its screenings—an issue he notes other Telugu films have also faced.
Addressing the media, Pawan Kalyan strongly rejected the idea of retaliating by restricting Kannada films in the Telugu states.
“Cinema, music, sports, and cultural arts have no boundaries of language, region, caste, or religion. Their core purpose is to entertain and connect people from all walks of life,” Pawan Kalyan stated. “It is unfortunate that some individuals, driven by personal agendas, have tried to block the screening of OG in theatres across Karnataka… In response, some voices have now begun to suggest that Kannada films like Kantara should be restricted in our Telugu states. I do not support this thinking.“
A Call for Cultural Unity
Pawan Kalyan emphasized that art must be allowed to flourish freely, regardless of its origin.
“Art and cinema must spread joy, bridge cultures, and bring people together, not drive them apart,” he added. “Every individual has the right to watch the film they love. If you don’t like a film, you can choose not to watch it – but using personal hate or agendas to target films is simply unacceptable.”
Sources close to the Deputy CM noted that his stance reflects his consistent belief that good cinema should be celebrated universally, reinforcing his image as a true patron of the arts who respects filmmakers and technicians irrespective of language.
“Today, Indian cinema is being celebrated across the globe in every language. At a time like this, any attempt to confine art within regional limits must be strongly rejected. Let us support good films, wherever they come from,” Pawan Kalyan concluded.