Weekly roundup: Samantha Ruth Prabhu's 'Shaakuntalam' takes theatres by storm, Pratik Sanghar alleges plagiarism in Prabhas' 'Adipurush' poster, Posani Krishna Murali hospitalized with third COVID-19 bout

This week in the entertainment world has been eventful, to say the least, with a mix of exciting releases and controversies. Samantha Ruth Prabhu's much-awaited movie 'Shaakuntalam' finally hit the theatres, garnering praise from fans and critics alike. However, the week was not without its share of controversies, as concept artist Pratik Sanghar claimed plagiarism against the poster of Prabhas' upcoming movie 'Adipurush'.

In other news, veteran actor and writer Posani Krishna Murali was admitted to the hospital in Hyderabad after testing positive for COVID-19 for the third time. Meanwhile, director Venu Yeldandi found himself under fire for his offensive portrayal of MPTC members in his recent movie 'Balagam'. Finally, a leaked picture of Prabhas and Siddhi Kumar from the sets of Maruthi's upcoming film has been doing the rounds on social media, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the release.

Pic courtesy: Twitter

Samantha Ruth Prabhu's much-awaited film, Shaakuntalam, finally hit theatres on Friday. The movie, directed by Gunasekhar, is a reciting of the epic love story of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta. The film features Samantha in the titular role, while Dev Mohan plays King Dushyanta. 'Shaakuntalam' managed to draw in audiences to the theatres. The film has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with some praising the performances and visuals, while others criticized the pacing and the screenplay.

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In a shocking revelation, concept artist Pratik Sanghar accused the makers of 'Adipurush' of plagiarizing his artwork for the movie's poster. Sanghar claimed that he had created a similar poster for a personal project he was working on and that the 'Adipurush' team had used his design without permission. However, the team hasn’t denied the allegations yet.

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Actor Posani Krishna Murali has tested positive for COVID-19 for the third time. He was admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad for treatment recently. Posani is known for his work in Telugu cinema and has acted in several hit films. He has also directed movies and has worked as a screenwriter for many films.

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Director Venu Yeldandi's latest film, Balagam, has come under fire for its offensive portrayal of members of the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC). The film allegedly mocks the elected representatives and portrays them in a derogatory manner.Several MPTC members Ibrahimpatnam mandal in Jagityal district have reportedly criticized the film and have demanded that the offending scenes be removed. The director has not yet responded to the backlash.

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A leaked picture of Prabhas and Siddhi Kumar from the sets of their upcoming film with director Maruthi has gone viral on social media. In the picture, Prabhas and Siddhi are seen standing together, and fans are speculating about their on-screen chemistry. The film, which is yet to be titled, is expected to release in 2024 and is one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

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The news of Sreeleela joining the cast of Pawan Kalyan and Harish Shankar's upcoming film, Usthaad Bhagat Singh, has sent waves of excitement through the South Indian film industry. The young actress, who is known for her versatile acting skills, has been making waves in the Telugu film industry. In Usthaad Bhagat Singh, Sreeleela will be seen essaying the female lead opposite Pawan Kalyan. While details about her character in the film are still under wraps, sources close to the production team suggest that her role will be a substantial one and that she will have a lot of scope to showcase her acting skills.

Overall, it was a weekend of highs and lows for the Telugu film industry, with several controversies and exciting updates about upcoming movies.

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