Imagine settling into your seat for a first-day-first-show, the crowd buzzing, whistles echoing, and suddenly the celebration turns into sheer panic as flames shoot up near the screen. That is exactly what unfolded at **Ashok Talkies in Rayagada, Odisha**, during a screening of Prabhas' latest film **"The Raja Saab."** According to multiple reports, a group of overexcited fans began performing **aarti in front of the screen** and even attempted to **burst crackers and burn confetti inside the closed theatre** to celebrate the star's grand entry.[2][3][4][5][6] What started as fan frenzy quickly escalated into a **fire breaking out near the screen**, triggering chaos and fear among moviegoers.[2][4][5]
As the flames rose, people **rushed toward the exits**, worried the fire might spread, while shouts and screams filled the hall.[5] Some visuals shared by media outlets show fans initially trying to blow out the fire amid the chaos, before the situation became too serious.[4][5] Reports note that the **theatre staff acted swiftly**, stopped the screening, and managed to **bring the fire under control**, averting what could have been a major tragedy.[2][3][5][6] Thankfully, **no injuries or casualties were reported**, and there was no major structural damage to the cinema.[2][3][4][5][6] The incident has sparked a serious debate: Where should we draw the line between **fan devotion** and **public safety**? Across India, especially in the South, star worship is often celebrated with **cutouts, milk abhishekams, aartis, fireworks, and massive rallies**. But carrying those rituals **inside a closed cinema hall**, with flammable materials and hundreds of people packed together, is an entirely different risk.[2][4][5][6] Social media users and commentators have slammed this behaviour, calling it **irresponsible** and questioning how **firecrackers and similar items were allowed inside** in the first place.[5][6] This one incident highlights a larger problem: - **Fan culture is becoming increasingly performative**, where each group tries to outdo the other in "showing loyalty" to their favourite star. - **Theatres are under pressure** to handle massive crowds, early shows, and fan events, sometimes at the cost of strict checks. - **Basic safety norms**—like not allowing fireworks, open flames, or confetti burning indoors—can get ignored in the excitement.[2][3][5][6] And all of this is happening around a film that is already making headlines for other reasons. **"The Raja Saab," a fantasy-horror comedy directed by Maruthi, marks Prabhas' big return to mass entertainer territory**, with a star-studded cast including **Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Sanjay Dutt, Riddhi Kumar, and Boman Irani**.[2][4][6] Despite the **mixed to negative reviews**, the movie opened strongly at the box office, driven largely by fan power.[2][6] That same fan power, however, nearly turned theatrical celebration into disaster. This raises uncomfortable but necessary questions: - Should theatres **tighten security protocols** for big star releases, even if it slows down entry? - Do fans need to **rethink how they celebrate**, especially inside closed spaces? - And at what point does **star worship stop being love and start becoming a threat to others' safety**? Cinema is meant to be an escape, a shared joy, not a place where viewers must fear for their lives because someone lit a match for "celebration." Now over to you: - What do you think about this kind of extreme fan celebration? - Should theatres impose **stricter checks and bans on rituals and fireworks** inside the hall, even if fans protest? - Where, in your view, is the line between enthusiasm and endangerment? **Share your thoughts in the comments, and if you believe fan culture needs a serious reality check, share this post with your friends and groups to keep the conversation going.**Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/fire-breaks-out-in-theatre-as-prabhas-fans-do-aarti-burst-crackers-during-the-raja-saab-screening-watch-video/articleshow/126457667.cms
2.https://www.news18.com/movies/regional-cinema/the-raja-saab-fire-breaks-out-in-cinema-hall-as-prabhas-fans-burst-crackers-perform-aarti-ws-l-9821179.html
3.https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/regional-indian-cinema-news/article/the-rajasaab-fire-breaks-out-in-theatre-during-prabhas-entry-23611437
4.https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/fire-breaks-out-inside-cinema-hall-as-prabhas-fans-do-aarti-burst-crackers-during-the-raja-saab-show-101768061921142.html
5.https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/regional-cinema/the-raja-saab-rowdy-prabhas-fans-light-fireworks-cause-fire-inside-theatre-during-screening-watch-2026-01-10-1025303
6.https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/prabhas-fans-risk-several-lives-by-burning-confetti-inside-closed-theatre-during-the-raja-saab-screening-chilling-video-emerges
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