SUCCESS OF ‘THE KERALA STORY’ AFTER ITS BAN IN WEST BENGAL AND OTHER STATES

Lucknow, Sambhavi Lahiri: The film ‘The Kerala Story’, was released on 5^th May 2023, however, it was bounded with several controversies which didn’t affect the film and its releasing date. This movie revolves around girls from different parts of Kerala and how they were forced to convert to Islam and consequently join the ISIS. This movie depicts the harsh reality and certain unidentified truth which were most probably never spoken or talked about. The movie created headlines and controversies due to its complicated and dangerous plots and focus on a specific region.

The film was successfully released globally including USA and Canada.

It was banned in West Bengal by Mamta Banerjee to maintain peace within the state and so that there is no hatred for a particular region. Mamta Banerjee claimed the movie to have a ‘distorted story’. However, director Sudipto Sen explained in an interview how relevant it is to portray stories in a cinematic way so that it reaches large audience and how the audience must learn this hidden issue in Kerala. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan made the film tax free in theatres.