What was planned to be a outing to watch Ranbir-Deepaka’s Tamasha turned out to be huge embarrassment for a young couple in Kurla, Mumbai. And their fault – they were lazy enough to not rise from their seats when the national anthem boomed through the speakers at the PVR Multiplex.
Soon ‘Jaya Jaya Hey’ was replaced by voices of protest by the crowd. They took the couple to task for showing disrespect to the national anthem, with one angry man even threatening to slap them. The crowd did not relent till the multiplex staff asked the couple to leave the theatre.
A video titled ‘Muslim family thrown out of the cinema hall’ went viral on social media on Monday, sparking strong reactions on Twitter and Facebook with people divided over the issue. The video shows the family being asked to leave the multiplex by the management.
PVR Kurla stopped the screening of the movie at a late Saturday evening show after audience complained against the family. Several people got into a bitter verbal altercation with the family also. Screening of the movie resumed after the family left as the hall erupting in applause.
“The manager said they asked the family to leave after people protested. However, there was nothing to do with the religion of the family if they are Hindu or Muslim. There is no case registered,” a police officer from Ghatkopar police station told mediapersons.
“PVR Cinemas is fully committed to the policy of equal respect for everyone. According to order of Maharashtra Government, it is mandatory for all cinemas to play the National Anthem before every film. Being a law abiding company, like all other cinemas in Maharashtra, PVR Cinemas follows the practise prior to every show,” said the PVR spokesperson.
