The Kerala Story
The release of a new film called The Kerala Story, which claims to tell the stories of Hindu and Christian women who joined the Islamic State (IS), has sparked controversy in India. The film has been criticized by opposition politicians who claim it is publicity and an attempt to destroy religious harmony, while leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have praised it.
Despite poor reviews from mainstream critics, the film has performed well at the box office, earning over 560m rupees ($6.8m, £5.4m) in just five days. The film has been compared to last year’s hit movie, The Kashmir Files, and has been controversial since its teaser claimed it would tell the stories of 32,000 females from Kerala who joined the IS – a claim debunked by fact-checkers. The filmmakers say the movie is based on true events and years of research.
Reporter who went to question the 32,000 conversions mentioned in the movie ‘The Kerala Story’ got a mouth full.
The number is not 32000, it is more than 50 thousand. pic.twitter.com/s59dgamBeF
— Atul °Kushwaha?? (@RealAtulsay) May 10, 2023
As the release date of The Kerala Story approached, the film faced legal challenges and mounting criticism. The Kerala high court refused to stay the release, but the filmmakers agreed to remove the teaser that gave the contentious figure of 32,000 women. After its release, the film was praised by supporters who said it dealt with an important issue, while others accused it of demonizing Muslims and promoting Islamophobia.
ISIS bride Jasmina, married first at the age of 13 and later she married 6 times in 6 years.
She says “I was fine with it because i was following the word of the prophet”.
No different from what has been shown in Kerala story. pic.twitter.com/qTG7bJtlv0
— BALA (@erbmjha) May 10, 2023
Two state governments governed by the BJP made the film tax-free, while in Tamil Nadu, an association of multiplex owners stopped screening the film, citing protests and low audiences. West Bengal banned the film, saying it “could be dangerous to peace and order”. Some filmmakers and BJP leaders criticized the ban, and the Supreme Court will hear a request from the filmmakers against the ban on Friday.
The film’s impact on politics and society is seen as limited by analysts, who believe that movies like The Kerala Story are more likely to appeal to those who already support their message. Sandeep Shastri, a political analyst and pro-vice chancellor at Jagran Lakeside University in Bhopal, argues that such films do not have a significant impact on the broader public.
The film’s release coincided with a contentious election campaign in Karnataka, the only southern state where the BJP is in power. Prime Minister Modi praised the film during an election rally, saying that it sought to “expose the consequences of terrorism in a society”.
However, political cartoonists, musicians, and social media users in Kerala have criticised the film and defended the state’s religious harmony. Despite criticisms from some politicians and Muslim leaders, the Kerala government did not ban the film’s release.
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