A video going around on social media shows a man being pushed out of a cinema hall because he did not stand when the Indian national anthem played before a film. The scene was shared on platforms like X, Reddit, and Instagram, and has started a heated debate online about respect for national symbols and individual rights.
In the clip, people inside the theatre can be heard shouting as the anthem plays. Some audience members are seen urging the man to stand, while others physically move him toward the exit. By the end of the clip, he is forced out of the cinema as people clap and shout. There is no confirmed information yet on the exact location of the cinema or the identity of the man involved.
Many social media users praised those who removed him. They said standing for the national anthem shows respect for the country and should be followed in public places, especially where the anthem is played. Other commenters strongly disagreed. They said patriotism cannot be forced, and that personal choice matters. Some said a cinema hall is a space for entertainment, not a place for compulsory patriotic acts.
India’s law on national symbols says people must respect the national anthem and flag in public, and disrespect can be punishable. In the past, courts had at one point asked cinemas to play the anthem before films, and audiences were expected to stand, but that nationwide requirement was lifted years ago, and now it is optional for theatres to play the anthem.
The incident has highlighted wider questions about how and where respect should be shown for national symbols, and whether people should face social pressure for their personal choices. Some say respect is important, while others argue it should not be enforced by crowds or online pressure.
