‘The Kerala Story’ banned in Bengal; BJP, film producer slam Mamata

The Kerala Story”, which has remained under controversy since its release, has been banned by the West Bengal government in order to maintain law and order of the state.

News agency ANI quoted Mamata Banerjee saying, “West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie The Kerala Story. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state.”

The film narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage. There’s a continuing political outcry around the movie even as it has been made tax-free in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. The film director, Sudipto Sen, is accused of a right wing sympathizer.

The Bengal chief minister has directed the state chief secretary to ensure the film is removed from screens running it in the state, reported The India Today. She also said, “What is The Kashmir Files? it is to humiliate one section. What is The Kerala story?… It is a distorted story.” Reacting to the decision, film producer Vipul Shah said, “If that is what she has done, we will take legal action. Whatever is possible under the provisions of law, we will fight.”

“They are defaming Bengal also. I came to know that have made posters saying ‘Save Bengal’. What happened in Bengal? It is a peaceful, peace-loving state. Why is BJP creating communal politics?” she added.

Action will be taken against any theatre found showing the film, a West Bengal government official told PTI.

It landed in controversy since the release of its trailer, which claimed 32,000 women in Kerala have been converted and inducted into ISIS. Last week, the promo was changed to “true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala”.

BJP backs the movie

The BJP reacted swiftly after the announcement. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar slammed the ruling TMC government’s move and claimed Mamata Banerjee wants to “close her eyes to the reality”. He said, “CM Mamata Banerjee has banned the movie ‘The Kerala Story. Nothing to surprise, it was expected of her. It is based on the true stories and shows how Islamists trap Hindu girls into Love Jihad and later send to become ISIS terrorists. Didi want to close her eyes to the reality.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has backed the movie saying it “shows the ugly truth of terrorism and exposes terrorists’ design”.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said the film “exposes the conspiracy of love jihad, religious conversion and terrorism”.

The Delhi BJP has also demanded that the film be made tax-free in the national capital as well.

Critics deplore depiction, Cinema halls pull down movie

Many cinema halls pulled down the movie from theatres even as critics across the board deplored the poor depiction and childish treatment of the subject.

Meanwhile, President of Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association, M Subramaniam, have also said that several cinema halls in the state are not screening the movie. He told news agency PTI, “The film was only shown in a few multiplexes owned by pan-India groups, mostly PVR. Locally-owned multiplexes had already decided not to show the film, as it did not have any popular stars.

In Coimbatore for instance, there were two shows so far — one on Friday and one on Saturday. Even those did not do well. Given that, theatres decided that it was not worth going through the threat of protests and such, according to Hindustan Times.

Courts refuse to interfere

Notably, several groups, mainly Muslim ones, demanded a ban on the movie since it is “intended to paint one section” as promoter of terrorism.  The Supreme Court and several High Courts earlier refused to interfere in the release and screening of the film, reported NDTV. “You must think of the actors, producer… You must be very careful about staying films. The market will decide if it is not up to the mark,” a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had said while dismissing a petition to scrap the film board certification.

‘The Kerala Story’, which hit the theatres on Friday, has been facing protests across the country due to its storyline.  ‘The Kerala Story’ stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles.