Vellore Dy Collector walks into Mersal screening, pauses movie to give 'nilavembu kashayam' to audience

The TN health department is losing no opportunity to spread awareness on the serious crisis the state is facing from the deadly dengue. What started of as pamphlets to raise awareness and door to door campaigns has now even infiltrated cinema halls.

Movie-goers at Vaniymabadi in Vellore were in for a surprise, when authorities entered the cinema hall in the middle of a screening on Thursday and proceeded to give the public `nilavembu kashayam' and lecture them on how to prevent the disease, reports ToI.

According to reports, the movie watchers were attending the first show of the newly-released 'Mersal' when 10-15 officials entered the hall. The film was stopped and the lights turned on before the Deputy Collector S Jayaprakash introduced himself and requested the audience for a few minutes of attention.

He was reportedly at the venue to follow up on whether the theatre owner, whom he had fined Rs.5000 afrer finding mosquito breeding on the premises, had taken necessary steps to tackle the matter.

“I took the opportunity to create awareness about dengue among the audience. Without any misgivings, they came forward to take the herbal drink and also thanked us. I spoke for a few minutes about the simple ways to prevent breeding of mosquitoes and to keep dengue fever at bay.They listened to me with utmost sincerity and even asked a few questions to clear their doubts. It was very encouraging," Jayaprakash told ToI.