Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Days after PM Modi asked the BJP leaders and workers to refrain from making “unnecessary comments” on movies, a video allegedly showing the Prime Minister watching and applauding the trailer of Pathaan has grabbed the attention of social media users. Newschecker found that the content displayed on the screen in the viral video has been digitally replaced by the trailer of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer. The Prime Minister was actually watching the launch of Chandrayaan 2.
Several Twitter users shared the video claiming to show “PM Modi watching Pathaan’s trailer in his office..”
Archived versions of such tweets can be seen here, here, here and here.
The video has also found its way to YouTube.
Also Read: PM Modi Called Himself ‘Son Of A Pathan’? No, Old Video Shared Out Of Context
Fact Check/Verification
A Google reverse image search on the keyframes of the viral clip led us to a tweet by Times Of India, dated July 22, 2019. Displaying a picture of PM Modi in the same attire as seen in the viral video, the tweet stated, “Efforts such as #Chandrayaan2 will further encourage our bright youngsters towards science, top quality research and innovation: PM @narendramodi”
On comparing the Prime Minister’s image featured in the tweet by TOI with the frames of the viral video, we found several similarities between the two visuals.
Following this, we conducted a keyword search for “PM Modi watching,” & “Chandrayaan 2” on Google which yielded a video report by Hindustan Times, dated July 22, 2019, carrying a longer version of the clip showing the Prime Minister watching the launch of Chandrayaan 2.
The description of the video read, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the live telecast of Chandrayaan-2 launch. The Indian Space Research Organisation launched India’s second moon mission on 22 July. Chandrayaan-2 was earlier called off a week ago due to a technical snag. The launch took place at Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-2 will cover the south side of the moon.”
A comparison between the keyframes of the viral clip and video by Hindustan Times, we found them to be identical – except for the content displayed on TV screen. Hence, we could conclude that the viral video of PM Modi watching Pathaan’s trailer has been digitally edited.
News agency ANI had also tweeted a video of PM Modi watching the launch of Chandrayaan 2 on July 22, 2019.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral video claiming to show PM Modi watching Pathaan’s trailer at his office has been digitally edited. The original clip shows the Prime Minister watching the live telecast of Chandrayaan 2 launch in 2019.
Result: Altered Video
Sources
Tweet By Times Of India, Dated July 22, 2019
YouTube Video By Hindustan Times, Dated July 22, 2019
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
