Kerala’s political leadership has launched a blistering attack on the decision to confer two national honours upon The Kerala Story, declaring the recognition a deliberate attempt to stereotype the state and degrade Indian cinema’s ethos of secular unity. At the 71st National Film Awards, director Sudipto Sen was honoured with Best Director, while Prasantanu Mohapatra received Best Cinematography. These accolades have ignited outrage in Kerala, where critics accuse the jury of legitimising a harmful and divisive narrative spread by right-wing outfits, reported the Madhyamam.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the awards as “a grave insult” to Kerala—“By honouring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala’s image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury […] has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar. Kerala […] has been gravely insulted by this decision,” he wrote on X. He also accused the jury of undermining the “rich legacy of Indian films that stood for religious harmony and national integration.” He urged democratic citizens nationwide to raise their voices in defence of truth and constitutional values.
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V. D. Satheesan, echoed the CM’s condemnation, saying that awarding The Kerala Story was a “hate campaign” by the BJP and Sangh Parivar. He condemned the film as “religion‑driven propaganda” intended to incite communal discord. “By spreading falsehoods about Kerala, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar are trying to gain political advantage. This will not succeed,” he declared.
Kerala’s Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan also weighed in—denouncing the award as politically motivated propaganda. He questioned the film’s merit and denounced the recognition as part of an effort to promote fear and division in society. Cheriyan described it as unworthy of national honour and accused the jury of elevating ideology over cinematic merit.
Despite the controversy, Kerala leaders also celebrated the success of Malayalam cinema at the same awards. Senior actors Urvashi and Vijayaraghavan were honoured with Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, for their performances in Ullozhukku and Pookkalam. Vijayan called their wins a “remarkable moment” and praised Malayalam cinema’s growing national impact.
On the other side, jury chairman Ashutosh Gowariker defended the awards, emphasising that The Kerala Story tackled a “difficult topic” with clarity and realism. He pointed to the film’s visual style and narrative ambition in acknowledging its two major awards.
The controversy surrounding The Kerala Story, which released in 2023, centres on its portrayal of women from Kerala allegedly coerced into conversion and recruited by ISIS. Critics, including Kerala’s government and political parties, have consistently dismissed oral claims in the film as sensationalist and misleading, arguing that it misrepresents the state and fans communal tensions.
As the furor continues, Kerala political figures have made clear that the film’s national recognition is not merely a matter of artistic choice, but a political statement. The debate now centres on whether government-sponsored cultural platforms are being used to further ideological agendas at the expense of artistic integrity.
