This Sankranthi, the release of two particular films in a space of two days has divided fan bases. Game Changer and Daaku Maharaaj have been politicized, used as fodder for fan wars, and as a tool by political social media accounts to further their agendas. Since Ram Charan and Nandamuri Balakrishna belong to two rival cinema camps (there is an identity-based social division as well), fan wars were a foregone conclusion. But since their films have released months after a fiercely contested election in Andhra Pradesh, politically coloured fights have ensued. An Opposition party from a Telugu State added fuel to fire by comparing the collections of Game Changer with Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2.
The release of fake posters that inflated collections to ridiculous levels only made the matters worse. Social media posts and memes shaming Game Changer have amassed lakhs of views on X and Instagram.
The makers of Game Changer, meanwhile, have accused a 45-member gang of deliberately working in the background to tear down the prospects of the Ram Charan-starrer. As per the makers, a HD-grade print of Game Changer was released by this gang to break its back.
Political fights underline the above developments. In recent years, films and film stars have been politicized by ruling as well as opposition parties. Sankranthis are going to see these fights getting more intense with time.
