Vasai

A viral video purportedly showing people in a cinema hall in Palghar district chanting slogans and pledging to socially and economically boycott Muslims has triggered sharp reactions, with police saying its authenticity is yet to be verified.

A senior official from the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate said the origin of the video remains unclear and it could be the handiwork of “unscrupulous elements”.

The controversy erupted after Syed Naseer Hussain shared the clip on social media platform X, claiming it was recorded on March 10 during a screening of The Kerala Story 2.

He alleged that participants took an oath to boycott Muslims following the screening and criticised what he described as the growing use of cinema for propaganda and communal polarisation.

“India’s democratic ethos rests on secularism, equality and fraternity. Calls for social or economic boycott of any community strike at the spirit of the Constitution and must be rejected,” Hussain said.

Other social media users also reacted strongly, with one questioning the practicality of such boycott calls by pointing to global interdependence in areas like fuel and knowledge systems.

The issue has once again brought attention to the debate surrounding The Kerala Story and its sequel, both of which have been at the centre of political and cultural controversy.

While supporters argue that the films highlight certain realities, critics contend that they promote divisive narratives and contribute to communal tensions.

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Police said further investigation is underway to verify the video and identify those responsible.