In Suriya's 2019 action-thriller 'Bandobast' ('Kaappaan' in Tamil), there is this cruel business tycoon (played by Boman Irani) who lets loose lakhs of locusts to destroy agricultural crops spread over a large swathe of land so that he can set up a mining firm in the area. In the KV Anand-directed thriller, Suriya becomes the saviour as the adventurous and heroic SPG commando of the story.

The locust invasion that has been witnessed in parts of India over the last 48 hours has reminded many of the Suriya-KV Anand flick. Many on social media are referring to 'Bandobast', saying that the film had shown how locusts destroy crops much before the current tragedy. "Whatsoever is happening now, a similar condition has already been shown in a southern movie," a Twitter user writes.

Another Twitter user, tagging actor Boman Irani, comments that whatever was said by his character in 'Bandobast' is playing out in real life.

For a lot of us, the locust attack episode in the Suriya film is the only memory of such a thing happening anywhere. Locust attacks, however, haven't been unknown to India. They have been a reality in Rajasthan for years. Unlike in 'Bandobast', they are not caused by any conspiracy but due to natural factors. The ongoing locust invasion is the worst in decades.

'Bandobast', also starring Mohanlal and Arya, was produced by Lyca Productions.