Poster of ‘The Kerala Story’
The ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in Kerala on Friday slammed the controversial upcoming film ‘The Kerala Story’, saying freedom of expression is not a license to spew venom at the society and the film is an attempt to destroy communalism. State harmony.
‘The Kerala Story’, written and directed by Sudipto Sen, portrays the events behind “nearly 32,000 women” who are allegedly missing in the southern state as “unknown”. The film falsely claims that they converted, got radicalized and were deployed in terrorist missions in India and around the world.
Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cherian said in a strongly worded Facebook post that the film was part of the Sangh Parivar’s propaganda to implement “their tried and tested method of creating unrest” among communities by spewing venom in the society.
“Kerala is a state known for its communal harmony… This film can be seen as an attempt by the Sangh Parivar to destroy the secular fabric of the state… It is trying to divide the society and create unrest.” Conspiracy to create.” Cherian said.
The Congress party urged the government not to allow the screening of the controversial film as it aimed to create “communal division in the society through false claims”.
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan rejected the claims of the filmmakers and said it was clear that the upcoming film was intended to tarnish the state’s image internationally.
The Congress leader said, “Such a film which falsely claims that 32,000 women in Kerala have converted to Islam and become members of ISIS should not be allowed to be screened.”
‘The Kerala Story’ starring Adah Sharma is all set to hit the theaters on 5th May.
Cherian said that freedom of expression is not a license to spew venom in the society. “We will consider legal action against such fake propaganda,” he said.
Satheesan also said that this is not an issue of freedom of expression, but part of an attempt to implement the Sangh Parivar’s agenda of creating divisions in the society by attacking minority groups.
“No one should think that Kerala can be divided by spewing the venom of communalism,” he said.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M), also criticized the film, saying that its trailer itself hurts religious sentiments.
In a Facebook post, DYFI alleged that the medium of cinema was being misused by the makers of the film to create a communal divide in the society and tarnish the image of the state.
The Left organization also demanded strict action against the film.
In a press note released earlier this week, the filmmakers announced the release date with a poster that features a burqa-clad woman with the tagline “The truth was hidden.” The film’s writer-director Sudipto Sen’s previous films are ‘Aasma’, ‘Lucknow Times’ and ‘The Last Monk’.
‘The Kerala Story’ is backed by Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd, founded by Vipul Amritlal Shah, who serves as the film’s producer, creative director and co-writer.