There is nothing inherently wrong in wanting to screen a film rooted in Sanathana Dharma for the Prime Minister of India. However, context and content matter—and that is where concerns arise regarding Akhanda 2.

Director Boyapati Srinu recently expressed his intention to screen Akhanda 2 in Delhi for top dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the gesture may stem from respect or ideological alignment, several voices within Telugu Desam Party (TDP) circles themselves believe this could be an unwise move, given the way the film portrays the system and those in power.

According to insiders, Akhanda 2 presents the Prime Minister more as a passive observer to the nation’s crises rather than a decisive, proactive leader. In one scene, an opposition leader is shown entering the Prime Minister’s Office, politically intimidating him, and walking away, leaving the Prime Minister looking helpless. Additionally, the narrative repeatedly suggests that the Indian armed forces and the entire administrative machinery are ineffective without Balakrishna’s Akhanda character stepping in to save the nation.

Such portrayals, critics argue, could be deeply uncomfortable for the Prime Minister and his team. Rather than coming across as a tribute, the screening might unintentionally feel disrespectful or even insulting—something best avoided, especially at a time when coalition politics are delicately balanced in Andhra Pradesh.

Further complicating matters are certain commercial elements in the film. Scenes involving an army scientist, played by Samyukta Menon, shown in revealing attire, consuming alcohol with the protagonist, and participating in mass dance numbers like “Jajikaya”, may clash sharply with the seriousness expected in a film being showcased at the highest level of governance.

Requesting the Prime Minister to selectively focus only on the Sanathana Dharma dialogues while overlooking the rest of the film’s exaggerated commercial treatment could easily backfire. Films such as The Kashmir Files or The Kerala Story handled politically and religiously sensitive subjects with a grave, realistic tone. In contrast, Akhanda 2 is largely crafted as a high-voltage commercial entertainer tailored for Balakrishna’s fan base, filled with heightened heroism and theatrical excess.

While these elements resonate strongly with fans, they may appear exaggerated or out of place to North Indian audiences—and more so to the Prime Minister himself.

“Better not to screen this film for the Prime Minister. If he watches it, it could turn into an unnecessary embarrassment,” says a senior TDP insider, summing up the sentiment within political circles.