Event Highlight: The Stage, The Host, and The Unexpected

Event Highlight: The Stage, The Host, and The Unexpected

On 15 November 2025, at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, the launch event for the much-anticipated film Varanasi (directed by S. S. Rajamouli, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra & Prithviraj Sukumaran) brought hundreds of excited fans together. 

The event was billed as a “Globe Trotter” experience, with a giant screen set up to premiere the trailer. But during the event, technical glitches and delays threatened to derail the momentum. According to the report from Hindustan Times, it was the host, Suma Kanakala, who stepped up brilliantly — using her humour, stage presence and improvisation to keep the audience engaged throughout. 

What Went Down: The Crisis, The Calm & The Crowd

• The trailer launch was meant to be seamless, but as the technical setup for the giant screen at Ramoji Film City took longer than expected, the show started to lag. 

• Instead of letting silence or frustration take over, Suma Kanakala took charge. She used impromptu speeches, humour, and interaction to bridge the delay and keep the energy alive. 

• Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed. On social media, fans and industry peers alike praised her performance. One standout comment: singer Chinmayi Sripaada tweeted that “Suma Kanakala garu is the GOAT.” (“garu” being a Telugu respectful suffix) 

• Additional comments included:

  “Super woman. Pure talent and total respect. She put in everything to keep the event alive.” 
  “You really saved them from the embarrassment of that repeated technical glitches and delays by instantly creating out-of-syllabus engagements and conversations to deflect the attention from the audience and fans.” 

• The event also had co-host Ashish Chanchlani, but according to the report, he wasn’t seen on stage during the latter half — making Suma’s solo efforts all the more prominent. 

Meanwhile, the cast and production team stayed in good spirits: Suma posted on her X (Twitter) account:

“Yesterday was a super roller coaster and I loved every bit of it… Seeing @ssrajamouli garu for so many years and witnessing the hard work he puts into everything is just unmatchable. He is truly unstoppable. Super Star @urstrulyMahesh your charm is for a lifetime.”  

 

Why This Moment Matters

1. Live event dynamics are unpredictable — Even well-organised shows have glitches. But what stands out is how the host handles it. Suma’s ability to adapt turned a potential negative (technical delays) into a positive (audience engagement).

2. The power of stage presence and timing — The comments reflect that viewers noticed not just the hosting but how Suma handled the situation: presence of mind, humour, quick transitions.

3. Social media amplifies moments — A line from Chinmayi Sripaada plus fan comments helped spread appreciation beyond the venue itself, building goodwill for the film’s promotion.

4. Branding for the film — For Varanasi and its team, the smooth handling of hiccups keeps the image sharp. Audiences remember not just the trailer but the energy of the launch-event.

5. Host as unsung hero — Often events focus on stars, trailers, production design. This instance highlights the importance of the host and their role in real-time management.

 What to Learn From It

• Preparation matters — While we don’t know all the backstage details, a host who is ready for improvisation helps immensely when plans stall.

• Maintain energy and flow — Interruptions are expected; maintaining momentum is key. Suma’s choice to engage the crowd rather than stall speaks to good event instinct.

• Use the moment to reinforce messaging — Her social-post thanking Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu did two things: personal gratitude + promotional shout-out.

• Mind the digital echo — After the event, the social media reactions helped embed the positive narrative (“Suma saved the event”) into wider public view.

• Every stakeholder matters — While the trailer launch is about the film, quiet heroes like the host can create the difference between “okay” and “memorable.”

Final Thoughts

For the forthcoming film Varanasi, the launch event could have been a blemish if the technical issues overshadowed the moment. But thanks to Suma Kanakala’s capable hosting, it became a moment of charm and engagement instead. The quick thinking and connection with the audience turned a situation of risk into one of resonance.

As fans await the film’s release (set for 2027) — this incident gives a preview of the production’s commitment to experience, not just content. For Suma Kanakala, it’s yet another moment reinforcing why she is regarded as one of the strong live-event personalities in Telugu entertainment.