'Thalapathy' Vijay's Varisu is scheduled to open in cinemas worldwide as a grand Pongal release in January 2023 and pre-release activities are already underway in full swing. With an important sequence said to be a part of the climax currently being shot in Hampi, Karnataka, the film being directed by blockbuster Telugu filmmaker Vamshi Paidipally has been mired in controversy over the past week in regard to the release of its dubbed version in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Earlier this week, the Telugu Film Producers Council issued a statement urging exhibitors to give first preference to straight Telugu films over dubbed releases during festivals like Sankranti and Dussehra, which has caused quite a lot of stir among fans and some members of the Tamil film fraternity. 

With nearly two months left before the release of Varisu, which is coming out in Telugu under the title Vaarasudu, the talk about stopping its release in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has led to a considerable outcry among personalities from all walks of life, with Tamil actor-politician, and leader of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) Seeman issuing a statement on Friday addressed to the Telugu Film Producers Council to change their stance. Similarly, filmmakers Lingusamy and Perarasu too had addressed the issue and urged Telugu film producers to allow the release of Varisu in the Telugu-speaking states. In that light, iconic and blockbuster Telugu producer-distributor Allu Aravind, father of star actor Allu Arjun, too was asked about the stopping of dubbed releases in the Telugu states to which he responded by saying that such a thing was not possible and will never happen. 

With the issue surrounding the release of Varisu in Telugu still ongoing, it remains to be seen how things turn out and fans will surely look for a resolution soon. Dil Raju is producing the upcoming film under his Sri Venkateswara Creations banner, which has Vijay sharing screen space with national sensation Rashmika Mandanna for the first time ever. Expectations for Varisu are massive and the response to the first single from the film, 'Ranjithame', is testimony enough that there is a lot of excitement among fans to witness the duo on the big screen.