Ravi Teja’s Irumudi has sparked an unusual fan movement in Makthal, Telangana. Moviegoers staged a dharna outside Venkataramana Theatre after the film was removed from screens. The Shiva Nirvana directorial has been enjoying a strong run since its release, with audiences from surrounding villages turning up in large numbers to watch the film.
The sudden decision to stop screening Irumudi left several fans disappointed. According to reports, they gathered outside the theatre on Wednesday morning and demanded that the film be brought back.
Fans Refuse to Let Irumudi Leave
Audiences had been struggling to get tickets even on the previous day, with several people setting aside their work and waiting at the theatre in the hope of watching the Ravi Teja starrer. Some moviegoers went to the extent of saying that they were ready to sit on the floor if necessary just to watch the film. The protesters, including devotees and people from nearby villages, questioned the theatre management’s decision to remove a film that was attracting strong demand and urged them to provide another opportunity to watch it.
Theatre Brings Irumudi Back
The protest yielded results, with the theatre management agreeing to continue screening Irumudi following discussions with the protesters. The incident is particularly noteworthy because the film’s removal coincided with the arrival of Yash’s Toxic, creating a screen-allocation situation for exhibitors. While Toxic is one of the year’s biggest releases and carries enormous expectations, the developments in Makthal show that Irumudi has developed a remarkably strong local following. For Ravi Teja and Shiva Nirvana, seeing audiences literally take to the streets demanding the film’s return is certainly a unique endorsement of its theatrical appeal.
