Meta has pulled the plug on a wildly popular AI-generated video in India, one that showed Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan dancing alongside electricity board officials—a lighthearted jab at the state's recent power cuts. The restriction came swiftly after a legal request from the Indian government, leaving both the creators and viewers puzzled.

Key facts

  • Video posted on Instagram page 'aikavala' on September 10, 2026
  • Reached 1.78 crore views by September 14
  • Meta restricted access in India following a government notice
  • CM Satheesan had previously praised the video publicly

Context and creation

The video, crafted using artificial intelligence, features Satheesan in a playful dance with Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials. It was uploaded to the Instagram page 'aikavala' on September 10 and quickly went viral, amassing 1.78 crore views by Sunday, September 14. Satheesan himself had acknowledged the clip at a Kerala High Court event, even joking that he could outdance Malayalam actor Mohanlal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Government notice and restriction

On September 14, Meta complied with a legal request from the Indian government, restricting access to the video within the country. The creators shared a message from Meta stating,

"We have restricted access to your content in India pursuant to notice from the Government of India."
Abhijith, who runs the 'aikavala' page, expressed confusion over the move, noting that the Chief Minister had appreciated the video and that it remained viewable outside India.

Past incidents and responses

This isn't the first time Meta has taken action on content related to the Kerala government. Earlier, the platform removed news videos critical of the state administration and Satheesan, citing technical reasons. The Chief Minister's Office had denied requesting those removals and even asked Meta to reinstate the posts. The pattern raises questions about the consistency and transparency of content moderation decisions.