Kerala CM Criticizes National Award for Controversial Film 'The Kerala Story'

Criticism of National Film Award Decision

On Friday, Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed strong disapproval of the decision to award the National Film Award to 'The Kerala Story,' directed by Sudipto Sen. He accused the jury of betraying the illustrious tradition of Indian cinema.

Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan also condemned the decision to grant the national award to 'The Kerala Story,' alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is misusing the awards as part of its hate campaign.

Director Sudipto Sen received the Best Director award for 'The Kerala Story,' which also won for Best Cinematography. The film has been embroiled in controversy due to its portrayal of forced religious conversions of women and recruitment by the terrorist group 'Islamic State.'

In a statement, Vijayan said, 'We strongly oppose this move. Every Keralite and every person who believes in democracy across the country should raise their voice against this injustice. We must unite against the politics that seeks to weaponize art for communal promotion.'

However, he acknowledged the achievements of Malayalam cinema during the announcement of the 71st National Film Awards, calling it a 'remarkable success.' Vijayan noted, 'This moment became even more special when Urvashi and Vijayaraghavan won Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. Their extraordinary talent has enriched Malayalam cinema. These honors will inspire Malayalam cinema to reach new heights with even more outstanding films.'

In his statement, Satheesan remarked that the award for 'The Kerala Story' was given solely with the intent to spread religious hatred, stating, 'This is unacceptable.'