3 booked for not standing up during anthem play at film fest

The police said that the CIFF was conducted at Screen 7 of Palazzo and before the movie began, the national anthem was played. A section of audience took offence to two women, a mother and a daughter, and another man for remaining seated when it was played. An argument broke out between a group of students and the persons who were seated after the anthem concluded. 

Following a complaint, the police arrested Shubasree (59) and her daughter Shreela (28), residents of Saibaba Colony in Virugambakkam. The man identified as Bijon (21) from Kottayam in Kerala has also been booked. Thangadurai, secretary of Indo-Cine Appreciation Foundation, which conducts the CIFF, said that volunteers at the spot tried to intervene and sort out the issue. “But when the two parties refused to relent, the theatre’s management informed the police. Since we rented out the premises, we could not allow any untoward incident to take place,” he said. 

Speaking to DTNext, Shreela said that she was sitting next to her mother who could not get up during the anthem due to health reasons. Bijon was seated a few rows behind them. People targeted him, pulled him out of his seat and tried to seize his delegate’s pass. Some of the audience supported those who wereseated which actually prevented them from beimg assaulted. Shreela said that some youngsters from a city college had created the ruckus and used abusive language.   

She told police that her mother may not be booked as she was aged and unwell, the police asked her to sort it out in court. On 11 December 2016, a group of moviegoers were assaulted and verbally abused after a gang took offence to them for not standing up when the national anthem was played in Kasi theatre at Ekkatuthangal. Shreela who was also involved in the earlier incident was allegedly attacked for not standing up for the national anthem.