A disturbing video featuring veteran actress and dancer Sudha Chandran has taken social media by storm, leaving netizens divided between spiritual interpretations and concerns for her well-being. The clip, which shows the acclaimed performer in a state of extreme emotional and physical agitation, was reportedly filmed during a devotional gathering known as a Mata ki Chowki.
The Viral Incident: What the Video Shows
The footage does not originate from a film or television set, but from a religious event. In the video, Sudha Chandran appears to be emotionally overwhelmed and physically uncontrollable. She is seen struggling against several individuals, including actress Jaswir Kaur from the popular show 'Anupamaa', who are attempting to calm and restrain her. At one point, the agitated actress even tries to bite one of the people trying to help her.
The nature of her distress has become the central point of a fierce online debate. Many viewers who shared the clip believe she was spiritually affected during the prayers, with some explicitly stating that she was "possessed" by the goddess. This interpretation led to numerous comments of "Jay Mata Di" flooding social media platforms.
Social Media Erupts with Mixed Reactions
The online reaction to the video has been intense and polarized. While a section of users defended the episode as a genuine experience of divine connection, a significant number urged caution, sensitivity, and skepticism.
One user dismissed the event, writing in Hindi, "This is all fake. Nothing like this really happens." Another questioned the need to publicize such moments, posting, "Alright, let's accept it as devotion... Why does everything have to be filmed and put on social media?!! Keep it to yourself.. Mata ki chowki is for your peace not for the public to see."
Further criticism came from those mocking the concept, with one asking, "Does Kali Mata have nothing else to do except come only into these people? Everyone is just doing drama." A more concerned perspective noted, "She seems emotionally upset, so she is behaving this way," shifting the focus towards potential mental health aspects.
However, believers countered this skepticism. One defender stated, "Those who are laughing in the comments probably do not understand this. Mata Rani enters only her true devotees, just like she has entered Sudha ji. Jai Mata Di."
Divine Possession in Culture: From Rituals to Kantara
The incident has inadvertently brought the concept of divine possession, a theme recently popularized in Indian cinema, back into public discourse. The blockbuster film 'Kantara' (2022) and its prequel 'Kantara: Chapter 1' (2025) vividly depict this phenomenon through the traditional Bhoota Kola ritual.
In these movies, possession is portrayed as a sacred bond between communities and their guardian deities (Daivas). Characters act as spiritual mediums, channeling divine forces to protect tradition and deliver justice. The prequel specifically explores the origins by showing the possession of Guliga by the goddess Chavundi.
It is noteworthy that director Rishab Shetty has explicitly urged audiences not to imitate these scenes, clarifying that they represent specific local beliefs and are cinematic depictions.
Divine possession is a recognized religious belief in many Hindu traditions and other cultures worldwide. It is typically viewed as a voluntary, invited state where a deity or benevolent spirit temporarily guides or inhabits a person, often seen as a blessing that turns the individual into a healer or messenger. This is fundamentally distinguished from the involuntary and harmful concept of demonic possession.
The viral video of Sudha Chandran sits at the complex intersection of this ancient belief, modern social media scrutiny, and growing awareness about mental health, ensuring the discussion will continue long after the views stop counting.
