The kerala story

But the saga surrounding The Kerala Story is far from over. The low-budget Hindi film directed by Sudipto Sen, which was released in cinemas last Friday, tells the fictional story of three women from the southern state of Kerala who are lured into joining the Islamic State (IS) group after being converted to Islam. The filmmakers claim the film is based on years of research, but critics have panned it as propaganda aimed to stoke religious disharmony and Islamophobia. Since its release, the film has received an equal amount of support and disdain: while many leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have praised it, some state governments like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have refused to screen it at cinemas in an effort to control communal tensions. Now, the Indian Supreme Court is being asked to weigh in on the matter. Below, what to know about the controversy. Why is The Kerala Story so contentious? The Kerala Story had already created a furor months before its release when it screened a teaser in November 2022 claiming to reflect true “heart-breaking and gut-wrenching stories of 32,000 females” from Kerala who joined IS. This claim has since been debunked by a few different outlets, including the fact-checking website In response to the backlash, the filmmakers subsequently updated the film’s description on Youtube, calling it the “compilation of the true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala.” How...

The film especially showcases certain cases of how ‘love jihad’ was used by ISIS to lure 32,000 women to Syria. The trailer shows how men were brainwashed to woo Hindu and Christian women of Kerala in the name of love, convert them to Islam and convince them to join ISIS and other Islamic war zones. The shocking incidents occurred between 2018-19, when a rising number of Kerala youths had come under the influence of ISIS. The Kerala Story is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah for Sunshine Pictures Private Limited. Watch the trailer of The Kerala Story here: FAQs Q1:What is the date of release of The Kerala Story? The Kerala Story releases on May 5, 2023. Q2:Who is the lead actor of The Kerala Story? Actor Adah Sharma stars in the lead in The Kerala Story. Don’t miss out on ET Prime stories! Get your daily dose of business updates on WhatsApp. Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. Four state-owned financial entities — Punjab National Bank, Life Insurance Co...

‘The Kerala Story’ movie review: Adah Sharma’s performance marred by half-truths and an emotionally exploitative gaze The premise of ‘The Kerala Story’ demands attention and emotional investment, but director Sudipto Sen’s treatment is guided more by local politics than cinematic sagacity May 05, 2023 02:39 pm | Updated 09:42 pm IST The radicalisation and trafficking of gullible girls to germinate terror is a story waiting to be told. But the way director Sudipto Sen tells The Kerala Story, after years of research, is more burlesque than a sincere depiction of the problem. More like a companion piece to The Kashmir Files, the film maintains a divisive tone and the gaze is emotionally exploitative. Like the bigots in the film, it seems the makers are keen on converting the audience into hate mongers and expressing themselves in society. Said to be based on real stories of how innocent non-Muslim girls are recruited for the Islamic State, it follows three nursing students in Kerala who are brainwashed by an extremist group into thinking that their gods are no good and that only Islam can be the guiding light. Lured by love and lopsided logic, the girls are trapped in a heinous game where they become fodder in a purported clash of civilisations. No stay on screening of The Kerala Story: Kerala High Court Shalini or Fatima Ba ( While the premise demands attention and emotional investment, the treatment gets increasingly guided more by local politics than cinematic sagacity. Th...