A viral video purportedly showing a group of people inside a cinema hall pledging to socially and economically boycott Muslims after watching ‘The Kerala Story 2’ has triggered widespread outrage and political reactions, even as police say the clip’s authenticity remains unverified.

The footage, widely circulated on social media, appears to show individuals on a stage leading a crowd in chanting slogans and taking a collective oath, while others in the auditorium repeat after them.

The incident is alleged to have taken place in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, specifically in Vasai, following a screening on March 10.

However, a senior official from the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate stated that authorities are still trying to determine the origin of the video.

“We are not sure where it was shot and believe it could be mischief by some unscrupulous elements,” the official told PTI, urging caution against drawing premature conclusions.

The controversy escalated after Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain shared the video on X, alleging that the incident occurred after a free screening of the film. In his post, Hussain strongly criticised what he described as the growing use of cinema to fuel communal divisions.

“The continued encouragement of propaganda-driven narratives under the BJP government has increasingly targeted Muslims and deepened communal polarisation,” he wrote. He further warned that portraying an entire community in a negative light risks turning prejudice into organised discrimination.

Hussain also emphasised that calls for social or economic boycotts undermine the constitutional values of secularism, equality, and fraternity. “Such actions strike at the very spirit of the Constitution and must be firmly rejected,” he added. 

Both ‘The Kerala Story’ (2023) and its sequel have remained at the centre of intense debate since their release. While supporters argue that the films highlight uncomfortable realities, critics have consistently accused them of exaggeration and promoting divisive narratives.

As the video continues to circulate, authorities are working to verify its authenticity, with the incident once again spotlighting the intersection of cinema, politics, and communal tensions in India.