There is a hat-trick thing about Vijay Deverkakonda's films in a line.  'Arjun Reddy', 'Geetha Govindam' and now 'NOTA' have landed into pre-release controversies without fail. 

'Arjun Reddy': The film's posters featured Deverakonda passionately kissing Shalini Pandey.  Its teaser had the forbidden 'MC' word.  Veteran Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao struck back at the film, the youthful romance having offended his moral standards.  He sought removal of the film's posters on the state-run buses.  He rallied against the entertainer that supposedly would encourage debauchery, especially substance abuse, among youths.  

This controversy ensured that TV debates were there about it.  It also ensured that Ram Gopal Varma too would wade into the controversy.  It was free publicity with a vengeance.

'Geetha Govindam': This time, the controversy gave a headache to the makers.  It was a crime-induced controversy.  About 90 minute-long footage of the rom-com got leaked.  The arrest of an editor and 15 college students followed.  Deverakonda, Allu Aravind and Bunny Vasu, mainly, spent sleepless nights.  The controversy did create some hype around the film in a latent way.

'NOTA': Kethireddy Jagadeeswar Reddy.  A film personality who has dabbled in politics, he is a former regional censor board member.  His contention is that the film, with its message and alleged political bias against a party, seeks to appeal to people to vote against the party in the upcoming state elections in Telangana.  He hasn't watched the political thriller, though.  Reddy has appealed to the concerned authorities to prevent its release from happening.  It's highly unlikely that the authorities will stall 'NOTA' on the basis of a flimsy complaint.  But, as in the case of 'AR' and 'GG', this Deverakonda film is getting free publicity.  

Deverakonda needs to thank his stars for the free publicity that entities give his films.