Television host and popular event emcee Ranjini Haridas has spoken about recurring problems she witnesses at large public gatherings, using the recent Kozhikode beach incident as an example in a video shared on her YouTube channel.

Ranjini, who regularly hosts stage events and promotional programmes, said certain crowd behaviours repeatedly create difficulties during public functions. She referred to the Kozhikode event held two weeks ago as part of promotions for Athiradi, starring Basil Joseph and Tovino Thomas, to explain the issue.

The programme reportedly witnessed heavy overcrowding, with several children getting separated from their families during the event.

A video from the venue had gone viral after Ranjini reacted angrily to a group of youths who allegedly mocked announcements being made to trace missing children.

While announcing the names of missing children through the microphone, she responded sharply to comments made from the crowd.

“If it was your mother, would you say that? What is wrong with you? How is this funny when someone is missing? This is the problem with people. Ten people could die and some would still laugh. When everyone is standing here so beautifully, one person like this appears in between. I will not forget your face,” she said in the viral clip.

The video later received widespread attention on social media, with many users supporting her response.

‘Around 10 to 20 children went missing’

Explaining the incident in her YouTube video, Ranjini said complaints about lack of drinking water emerged early during the programme. According to her, organisers had made arrangements, but distributing water became difficult because of the crowd size.

She said she personally went backstage, collected a carton of water bottles and threw them individually into the crowd.

Ranjini said announcements regarding missing children started soon after the event began.

“It was not one child. Around 10 to 20 children went missing that day. There was even a list, and it kept changing,” she said.

According to her, the viral clip captured the first such incident from the stage.

“When I was reading out a child’s name, a young man shouted that the child was there. The child was actually not there. He was doing it for attention,” she said.

She added that the youngsters were mocking a serious situation.

“That is what made me angry,” she said.

Tovino Thomas also reacted, says Ranjini

Ranjini said a similar incident occurred later when actor Tovino Thomas was on stage alongside her.

“Tovino got angry too. But maybe because he is more mature than me, he handled it better. Even then, Tovino was very angry,” she said.

According to Ranjini, the event had to be paused temporarily while organisers searched for missing children. She said such announcements were made “10 or 20 times” before all the children were eventually located.

She also raised concerns over parents bringing very young children into overcrowded public gatherings.

“I am not speaking only about the Kozhikode incident. In general, people go missing at large gatherings like this. Why bring such small children into uncontrollable crowds? Think a little. There is trauma when children go missing. I cannot even imagine it,” she said.

Ranjini also questioned how adults were getting separated in crowds.

“How do even 25-year-olds go missing? Are they actually going missing or just getting separated from the group?” she said.

She further urged people attending future events to carry drinking water with them, saying movement becomes extremely difficult once people are trapped inside large crowds.