A Wandsworth cinema audience was abused and two men assaulted by a gang after a row over a Tamil film.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident where one man was punched in the face and another assaulted on Sunday at Cineworld Cinema in the Southside Shopping Centre.

According to officers a group of Asian men had approached two male customers at the cinema’s ticket desk at 9.20pm and tried to convince them not to see the film Aegan.

One of the gang started talking about Sri Lankan and Indian politics saying he objected to the views of one of the actors in the film.

The 25-year-old customer told the group he was not interested and a second suspect then stood in the way of the pair.

Eventually the suspects walked away after the pair bought their tickets and continued into the screening room.

However 10 minutes into the film two or three men came into the screening room and started shining lights into peoples’ faces.

After a few minutes the group left, but returned again, shouting at the audience, demanded they left the film and continued to shine lights in their faces.

According to officers there were around 65 people watching the film including families with children.

After some of the children started to cry some customers left because they were worried they might be hurt.

As the group of suspects moved around the room a fight began and one victim in his 20s was punched in the face leaving him with a gash to his left temple.

Another man in his 20s was also attacked.

The group then left the cinema.

The two victims were treated for minor injuries but did not go to hospital.

The incident is being investigated by Wandsworth Community Safety Unit and Detective Inspector Mark Cranwell called for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information should call 020 8247 5432 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.