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No, SS Rajamouli is not donating Baahubali 2's day one earnings to Sukma martyrs - it's fake news

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DailyBite
DailyBiteMay 04, 2017 | 14:54

No, SS Rajamouli is not donating Baahubali 2's day one earnings to Sukma martyrs - it's fake news

It’s like Greek philosopher Abraham Lincoln said in 3470 BC, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”

Fake news is on the rise, and not just the kind US President Donald Trump talks about. Thanks to cheaper smartphones, cheaper data rates, social media and WhatsApp, random rumours - that have no basis on facts - spread like wildfire.

In India, the one thing that is common to a large number of these social media hoaxes is the fact that they are either about religion, or nationalism.

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The latest baseless rumour that is floating on the interwebs, thanks to Facebook and WhatsApp, has best of both worlds. Apparently, Baahubali 2 director SS Rajamouli and lead actor Prabhas are all set to donate Rs 115 crore, the film’s day one earnings, to the families of martyrs from Sukma where, in a devastating attack by Maoist forces on the 99-member Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party, 25 jawans lost their lives.

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Photo: Screengrab

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Photo: The Lallantop

It is easy to understand why this, though a rumour, would be so easy to believe. To begin with, Indians seem to have a soft spot for Baahubali. Despite the questionable storyline, the less than awe-inspiring CGI, rampant sexism and even normalisation of (nay romanticising) rape, it is probably the grandeur, the war scenes and the idea of India finally having epics that rival Lord of the Rings (who are we kidding?) that makes Baahubali 2 a popular film.

In fact, it is so popular that Indian audiences have a hard time digesting any criticism of the film. As film critics commented on the crowd-pleasing nature of the blockbuster movie, noting the increased fixation on Hindutva in part two, trolls on social media did all they could to abuse them. 

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So, when the director and the lead actor of a film that is the nation’s pride, allegedly decide to donate a huge sum of money to the families of jawans who were brutally murdered by Maoist guerrillas, it is not only something that is believed without proof, but also welcomed as it weirdly legitimises the baseless notion that supposedly pro-Hindutva filmmakers, who depict the religion in a very positive light, care more about the nation that liberal filmmakers who like nothing more than breaking India.

But alas, this is nothing more than fantasy.

SS Rajamouli and Prabhas have not and probably will not donate the day one earnings of arguably this year’s biggest hit to the families of martyred CRPF jawans.

According to Social Media Hoax Slayer - a Facebook and Twitter account run by Pankaj Jain, a Mumbai-based businessman - this is nothing more than a rumour. The SM Hoax Slayer page regularly debunks propaganda, fake news and rumours on social media. 

Speaking to a “a well known celebrity”, the page provides an analysis on why this is definitely a rumour.

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[30/04, 18:55] : It’s not possible.

[30/04, 18:56] : Of that 115 crores, half is the exhibitor and distributor’s share.

[30/04, 18:56] : Then Dharma/Karan would have to receive a share too, as co-producer/presenter.

[30/04, 18:57] : That means Rajamouli/Prabhas would probably have no more than 25-30 Cr. to give, even if they did decide to give it.

[30/04, 18:57] : Also, if they had, there would be a LOT more noise about it.

And it is true. There is absolutely no noise on this matter, confirming once again it's nothing but a silly rumour. None of the official Facebook or Twitter accounts of the film, the director or the actor mentions anything about a donation. It is only Facebook pages like “Inspiring Young India” that are talking about it.

In this day and age, when political fake news is on the rise, and propaganda is almost always accepted willy-nilly without verification, it is paramount that that we verify any and every shred of information that is presented to us.

If we start believing every photo of Arvind Kejriwal holding a Pakistani flag, or Mahatma Gandhi dancing with a British lady, or Narendra Modi sweeping the streets of Swachh Bharat, then we might as well lobotomise ourselves and move on with life.

If we willingly ignore lies that are being spread by the bhakt brigade, when the truth is just a minute's walk from there, what is the point of having a brain at all?

Last updated: May 04, 2017 | 14:54
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