Kolkata (West Bengal): The government in West Bengal has banned the controversial movie 'The Kerala Story' citing "maintenance of peace" and to avoid incidents of "hatred and violence" in the state. West Bengal has thus become the first state to ban the film accused of spreading 'fake hate propaganda '.
The movie claims to narrate the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps. However, its makers first claimed the number was 32,000. A massive controversy erupted around the film after its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. However, in the face of protests, the contentious figure in the trailer was later withdrawn. Its trailer description was later changed to a story of three women from Kerala.
There's a continuing political outcry around the movie even as some BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh have made it tax-free. On the decision to ban the film, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "It is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state." Also raking up the 'Kashmir Files', a film on the alleged genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, which ran to packed houses despite evoking protests from the Opposition, the Bengal CM said, "What was 'The Kashmir Files'? It was meant purely to humiliate a particular section of society. What is 'The Kerala Story'? It is a distorted story."
The CM directed the state chief secretary to remove the movie from all theatres where it is being screened. Reacting to the ban, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the producer of the film, said they will pursue legal options against the decision. "If state government won't listen to us, we will explore legal avenues. However, whatever course we take will be based on legal advice," ANI quoted Shah as having said.
Helmed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film evoked sharp opposition from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who called it "RSS propaganda". Congress MP from Kerala, Shashi Tharoor accused the makers of "misrepresenting" Kerala. Campaigning for the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, weighed in on the controversy, accusing the Congress of standing with terrorists. 'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani in lead roles.
BJP reacts to ban
Reacting to the ban, BJP's IT-cell chief Amit Malviya slammed the West Bengal government and said Mamata Banerjee "has yet again chosen to stand with radical elements".
In a long tweet, Malviya wrote: "Mamata Banerjee’s decision to ban The Kerala Story in West Bengal is rather unfortunate. It raises serious questions on civil liberties and freedom of expression. The movie is a real account of victims, who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as cannon fodder for ISIS, one of the most barbaric force in the world. The threat has been recognised by not one but two Chief Ministers of Kerala - V S Achuthanandan, who was a Communist and Oommen Chandy, a Congressman. Does Mamata Banerjee know about the dreaded phenomenon of Love Jihad in Kerala more than the Catholic Bishops Council, the Syro Malabar Church, The Catechesis department of the Thamarassery Diocese or the Kerala High Court, who have all spoken out against the evil design of Islamists, luring away young women in a bloody trap of death and destruction?
Who is Mamata Banerjee trying to please with this ban? Does she think Muslims of Bengal relate more to the ISIS than the Indian Constitution? Shame on her regressive politics. There was no threat to law and order in Bengal because of the movie, which was being screened in over a dozen cinema halls in Kolkata alone. But now, with this dogwhistle, one can expect the worse. Instead of protecting our daughters, Mamata Banerjee has yet again chosen to stand with radical elements."
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Mamata Banerjee’s decision to ban The Kerala Story in West Bengal is rather unfortunate. It raises serious questions on civil liberties and freedom of expression. The movie is a real account of victims, who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as…
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 8, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Mamata Banerjee’s decision to ban The Kerala Story in West Bengal is rather unfortunate. It raises serious questions on civil liberties and freedom of expression. The movie is a real account of victims, who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as…
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 8, 2023Mamata Banerjee’s decision to ban The Kerala Story in West Bengal is rather unfortunate. It raises serious questions on civil liberties and freedom of expression. The movie is a real account of victims, who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as…
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 8, 2023
Also read: 'The Kerala Story' gets poor reception; theatres in TN stop screening film
