A political dispute has arisen over the screening of the film “The Kerala Story,” which was released last year and received accolades from right-wing factions, including several cabinet ministers of the Modi government. The decision by Doordarshan TV channel to broadcast the film has ignited a bitter confrontation between left and right-wing groups.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticized Doordarshan’s choice to air “The Kerala Story” and has urged the public broadcaster to refrain from showcasing the contentious movie. Vijayan expressed concerns that the film could potentially escalate communal tensions, particularly in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 26 in Kerala.
In addition to urging Doordarshan to withdraw the film, CM Vijayan cautioned against the public broadcaster becoming a mouthpiece for the BJP-led government and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), referring to them as attempts to spread discord.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan condemned the move, accusing the Modi administration of attempting to sow division within secular society by broadcasting “The Kerala Story,” which he described as a collection of falsehoods. Similarly, Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala criticized the decision, asserting that it fosters societal division.
“The Kerala Story” is slated to be aired on Doordarshan on April 5, Friday.
Allegations of Political Maneuvering
The ruling party in Kerala, the CPI (M), alleges that the BJP orchestrated the screening of the controversial film to coincide with the upcoming general elections. Despite challenges and criticism, last year, the Kerala High Court declined to halt the film’s release, asserting that its trailer did not contain anything offensive to any specific community. Prime Minister Modi endorsed the film during a state election rally, and three BJP-governed states exempted tickets for the film from taxes and organized widespread screenings.
The film’s trailer faced severe backlash for allegedly making false claims about the conversion and radicalization of 32,000 women from Kerala, who were purportedly involved in terrorist activities in India and abroad.
Currently, “The Kerala Story,” featuring Adah Sharma, is available for streaming on the ZEE5 platform. Directed by Sudipto Sen, the film garnered over ₹200 crore at the Indian box office, making it one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2023.
