Mumbai: A video showing a group of moviegoers getting into a heated argument with a family over not standing up for the national anthem at a cinema hall in Kurla on Saturday went viral on WhatsApp and You Tube.
As the exchanges got heated, some theatre officials were seen asking the family to leave the movie hall, with others present cheering and applauding as they move out. The incident reportedly took place right before the screening of Tamasha, which released Friday.
No police complaint has been filed and there has been no statement from the cinema theatre management so far but the video has gone viral on social media. In Maharashtra, it is mandatory for all cinemas to play the national anthem before every film.
Speaking on the issue a PVR spokesperson said, “PVR Cinemas is fully committed to the policy of equal respect for everyone. According to order of the Maharashtra Government, it is mandatory for all cinemas to play national anthem before every film. Being a law-abiding company, like all other cinemas in Maharashtra, PVR Cinemas follows the practice of playing the national anthem prior to every show.
“On November 29, 2015 there was an altercation between guests at one of our cinemas in Mumbai, our staff intervened keeping in mind the safety of guests and a peaceful environment for all our guests.” Deputy commissioner of police and Mumbai police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni said, “It’s not clear if the heated argument took place because they did not stand for the national anthem.”
Senior police inspector Vyankat Patil of the Ghatkopar police, in whose jurisdiction the cinema hall falls, confirmed that no one has approached them to file a case.
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