Unrelated video is edited and shared in the name of Sky bags
Claim
VIP LUGGAGE TOTALLY ALL HINUDS OBJECT TO THIS ADVERTISING..THEY HAVE TO PULL DOWN THIS ADVERTISING IMMEDIATELY. VIP Bags Ad in Malayalam promoting Love Jihad. Watch 42nd second..*
Rating
Explanation
A 0:55-second video clip purportedly showing a young Muslim man and a Hindu woman loving each other and ending up changing the religious identity of the woman is shared widely with the hashtag ’boycott VIP bags’ with the claim that VIP bags advertisement in Malayalam promotes love jihad. This video initially shows the woman in traditional wear with a bindi on her forehead and later in a long kurta with her bindi removed by the man. The video ends with the logo of Sky Bags.
@VIPBagsIndia
Boycott VIP Bags pic.twitter.com/wVIgIc4XVb— PRAVEEN SHROTI (@praveenshroti) April 23, 2023
Sky Bags is the brand of VIP Bags and it has been widely criticized by the right-wing on social media for publishing the advertisement video claiming to be supporting religious conversion. Some of the posts with such a claim can be seen here, here and here.
What is the truth?
The VIP Bags Twitter account is found replying to one of the viral posts clarifying that it is an unauthorized advertisement developed unlawfully using VIP and Skybags brand names tarnishing their image. The post further mentions that VIP industries have no connection to the creator and have filed a police complaint.
The VIP Bags Twitter page also tweeted an official statement regarding the viral video. The statement reads “VIP Industries Limited would like to clarify that a certain fake, malicious and mischievous advertisement is being circulated on various social media platforms and micro-blogging sites. The creator of this advertisement has unlawfully used VIP and Skybags brand names and attempted to tarnish the image of our company and brand names. VIP Industries has not issued this advertisement and has no connection with the person who has put this advertisement. VIP Industries has filed a police complaint against the same for unauthorized usage of its name and Trademarks”.
When searching for the video, we found it posted on the Instagram profile of Sumi Rashik. We also found a few photos posted on her page captured during the shoot of the viral video. Her profile says that she is an actress and a dancer. The actress Sumi Rashik is seen tagging the actor Vishnu K Vijayan in the posts related to the video. The viral video post credits the movie ‘Sufiyum Sujathayum’ as the audio of the viral video is from the mentioned movie. No mention of ‘Sky Bags’ is seen in the posts related to the viral video. Moreover, the original video also does not have the logo of Sky Bags at the end or anywhere in the video as seen in the viral video.
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The viral video is not an advertisement for Sky bags. It is a recreation video of a song from the movie ‘Sufiyum Sujathayum’ by the actor Vishnu and actress Sumi K Vijayan and Sumi Rashik. The edited viral video has the logo of ‘Puffington Ghost’ in it.
Conclusion
It is found that the viral video is not related to Sky bags/VIP bags and the video is found to be edited by adding the Sky Bags logo to its end. The video is a recreation video of a song from a Malayalam movie.
