A minor fire incident disrupted a screening of the Telugu film 'The Raja Saab' at Ashok Talkies in Rayagada, Odisha, on Friday, January 9, 2026. The blaze ignited during a celebratory moment as fans of actor Prabhas, whose film was being screened, performed 'aarti' with lit lamps and allegedly used firecrackers or fire arrows inside the cinema hall during his on-screen entry. Reports indicate that an 'aarti' plate might have slipped, causing papers near the screen to catch fire. This led to brief panic among moviegoers, and the screening was temporarily halted. However, the situation was swiftly brought under control by the vigilant cinema hall staff and quick-thinking audience members, who managed to douse the flames before they could spread significantly. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported, and there was no major damage to the theatre property. The screening of 'The Raja Saab', which was released worldwide on January 9, 2026, resumed shortly after the incident. Local police have since issued advisories, urging moviegoers to refrain from such unsafe celebratory practices inside cinema halls to prevent similar incidents in the future.