A video purportedly showing a family being asked to leave the theatre for not standing during national anthem has gone viral on social media. The video has also become a new subject of heated social media conversation with many questioning the rationale of playing the national anthem in a movie hall before the start of the film.
The 2.40 minute video clip shows audience creating ruckus, while a few people questioning the family as to why they could not stand for the national anthem when they can sit for four hours to watch the movie. The video shows the family, surrounded by the group of people, trying to defend itself, but the efforts are in vain.
However, after some time the family was forced to leave the cinema hall and the audience celebrated with a round of applause.
The video has been posted on Facebook and shared thousands of times. It is also being circulated on WhatsApp and other messaging platforms.
Though the authenticity of the video’s location is not verified, some reports say it is from Mumbai, others say it is from Bengaluru.
Watch the full video below.
Maharashtra government, through 2003 order, had made it mandatory for cinemas to play the anthem before every film, which made the audience take notice and stand up.
However, according to the Supreme Court audiences in cinema halls need not stand up when the national anthem was sung or used as part of a movie.