The Kerala Story which turned out to be a national blockbuster despite the controversies was released on more than 200 screens in the US and Canada on Friday. The director of the film, Sudipto Sen, while talking to Indian American reporters during a virtual news conference said that this movie is a mission beyond the creative boundaries of cinema. He said that this is a movement that should reach the masses across the globe and raise awareness.
While talking to the reporters he said, “The country was in denial of the long-existing issue in the state of Kerala. The Kerala Story is a mission which is beyond the creative boundaries of cinema, a movement that should reach the masses all over the world and raise awareness.”
Vipul Shah, producer of the film while talking to the reporters said, “The film’s subject was hidden from the masses and deserved to be told. We made the film in order to initiate deliberation worldwide.” While responding to a question he said, “This is a very bold, honest, and true film which in the beginning got no support, today stands at the point of releasing worldwide with a spectacular box office success in just 6 days.”
The film tells the story of three young girls who were converted to Islam and ended up joining ISIS.
The Kerala Story was boycotted in cinemas across Tamil Nadu and was criticised by many for initially claiming in the teaser that 32,000 girls from the state fled and joined ISIS. The West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee has also banned the film in his state. However, the right-wing including BJP has championed the movie as being a reflection of truth.
The Kerala High Court earlier had ordered the filmmakers to remove the teaser from its publicity campaign including social media posts.
Adah Sharma, the film’s lead actress has put forth her view on the significance of both the story as well as the subject of the film while emphasising the necessity to address and end such inhuman practices.