Audio launches see tight security

Sponsored Links:

From Ram Charan’s Toofan to Manchu Manoj’s Potugadu, there were 15 audio launches in August. And while the fans have been rejoicing, the organisers for these events have been having a harrowing time trying to avoid repetition of the March incident wherein a fan had died in a stampede during the audio launch of Jr NTR’S Baadshah.

SKN, the producer of Ee Rojullo and Romance and one of the organisers of Toofan’s audio launch, confirms that security has been more stringent than what it used to be. Also, the police is making sure that only a specific number of fan passes are distributed.

“Shilpakala Vedika, which was the venue for Toofan’s music launch, has a seating capacity of almost 3,500 people. So, the police was particular that passes more than that number should not be printed,” he says. Moreover, the fans can no longer photocopy passes thanks to the barcode system. “In Hyderabad, fans are crazy when it comes to such events. Many would photocopy passes to gain entry. But with the barcode system, they are unable to do so ,” adds SKN. These rules not only apply to just A-list events, but to every Tollywood launch.       Bharathi Krishna, producer of Welcome Obama, had to apply for police permission a month in advance. “The launch was attended by 1500 people. At the event, we had six police officers, 55 security personnel and 20 bouncers to make sure nothing went wrong,” says Bharathi.

While Shilpakala Vedika has a parking facility for 40 cars, only 20 were allowed and the rest had to be accommodated at Shilparamam’s paid parking facility.

While such rules leave some disappointed, others are breathing a sigh of relief. Twenty-one-year-old engineering student,  Pruthvi admits how organised such launches are now. “The incident during Jr NTR’s music launch was because it was an open event. Majority of such events take place now in closed venues. Other than that, bar coding system is a big boon and was implemented after the music launch of Pawan Kalyan’s Attarintiki Daredi in July. It’s very recent and the crowd is more manageable now.”

Sponsored Links: