Too much! Kannada-Telugu Clash On Veera Mallu Posters

What started as a routine film promotion ended up stirring unexpected controversy in Bengaluru. Ahead of the release of Pawan Kalyan’s much-awaited period action drama Hari Hara Veera Mallu, a theatre in the city was decked up with large Telugu banners celebrating the film’s arrival. But the absence of Kannada language on any of the promotional material quickly caught public attention.

A few local language activists reached the theatre and reportedly tore down the banners, citing disrespect towards Kannada. Despite repeated requests from fans to keep the peace, tensions escalated, and the situation became chaotic. Videos from the incident went viral, prompting heated discussions across social media platforms.

Fans questioned why such outrage is surfacing only during the release of this Telugu film. They pointed out that Tamil and Malayalam films have been screened in Bengaluru with minimal issues. Some even alleged that this was a targeted move and not a genuine language concern.

Reports also surfaced claiming that the activists demanded a fine of ₹1 lakh for not including Kannada in the promotional material. Whether this demand is true or just internet speculation is unclear, but the situation has definitely struck a nerve online.

This isn’t the first time Bengaluru has seen a flare-up over language. A few years ago, a bank manager was transferred after refusing to communicate in Kannada, which had also created public uproar. Ironically, Kannada film stars have often played major roles in Telugu and Tamil films, including lead roles without any linguistic bias.

With growing cross-industry collaboration in Indian cinema, the controversy has raised a serious question, should promotional language choices overshadow creative collaboration? Or are some using language as a political tool to stir division?

For now, fans of Pawan Kalyan remain unfazed, treating the incident as a one-off issue that shouldn’t derail the film’s release. But the debate over language and regional identity in cinema is clearly far from over.