After the arrest of iBomma Ravi, many believed that online piracy would reduce sharply.
There was hope that Telugu film piracy, especially during the Sankranthi season, would come under control. Many even felt that this year’s festival releases would be safe from piracy.
However, those hopes have been shattered. Piracy has not stopped, and Sankranthi releases have once again fallen victim.
A high-quality HD print of The Raja Saab has surfaced online, shocking the industry.
What is more worrying is that the leaked version does not look like a theatre-recorded video. Instead, it appears to be a direct server-side leak.
On the film’s first day, the episode featuring Prabhas’ old get-up was not part of the movie.
From yesterday evening, an additional eight-minute sequence was added. That episode is also present in the pirated print, clearly indicating that the film was leaked just hours ago.
This leak has come at a very sensitive time. The Raja Saab had already taken a hit at the box office. Premieres did not happen in Nizam, followed by Telangana High Court orders.
The producers also announced that from Monday, the film would be screened at normal ticket prices. In such a situation, piracy becoming active again is causing serious concern.
On the other hand, Prabhas fans have stepped in voluntarily to fight piracy. They are actively reporting illegal links wherever they find them and urging audiences not to watch pirated prints.
Fans are reminding everyone that a king-size film like The Raja Saab should be enjoyed only on the big screen, especially the last 30 minutes, which feature heavy graphics best experienced in theatres.