The Kerala Story: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

| runtime        =  

| budget        = {{estimation}} {{INR|40}} [[crore]]<ref>{{Cite web |title='The Kerala Story' budget |url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/film-the-kerala-story-made-in-a-budget-of-40-crore-rupees-adah-sharma-took-the-highest-fee-2023-05-05 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref>

| gross          = {{estimation}}{{INR}} 35.25 crore

<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |title=The Kerala Story Box Office Collection {{!}} India {{!}} Day Wise {{!}} Box Office - Bollywood Hungama |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/box-office/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |language=en}}</ref>

The film stars [https://kishansdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/05/adah-sharma.html Adah Sharma], [[Yogita Bihani]], [[Sonia Balani]], and [[Siddhi Idnani]]. It was released on 5 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nishad |first=Sneha Singh |title='The Kerala Story' trailer out: Adah Sharma headlines a hard-hitting, thought-provoking story |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/the-kerala-story-trailer-out-adah-sharma-headlines-vipul-amrutlal-shahs-hard-hitting-story-23283104 |access-date=27 April 2023 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |date=26 April 2023}}</ref> Critical reception from reviewers has been poor.

{{No plot|date=| en_US|plural=yes}}

 

The Kerala Story is a movie based on the forced conversion of 32,000 women in Kerala who are illegally transported to other countries to join extremist groups such as ISIS. The movie aims to raise awareness about this pressing issue and promote a much-needed conversation around it<ref>https://perfectlearnin.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-kerala-story-reviews.html</ref>

* [https://kishansdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/05/adah-sharma.html Adah Sharma] as Shalini Unnikrishnan / Fatima Ba

*  Vijay Krishna

* Pranay Pachauri

* [[Pranav Misshra]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Kerala Story release date, OTT, trailer, director, cast, plot - all you may want to know |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/the-kerala-story-release-date-ott-trailer-director-cast-plot-all-you-may-want-to-know/articleshow/100012494.cms?from=mdr |website=The Economic Times |access-date=5 May 2023 |date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

The film was produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who is also the [[creative director]] of the film.<ref name=":2" /> It was released in theatres on 5 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-26 |title=Controversial film The Kerala Story to be released on May 5, trailer out |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/controversial-film-kerala-story-be-released-may-5-trailer-out-176387 |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

The teaser, released on 3 November 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2022 |title=The Kerala Story teaser out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/videos/2022/nov/03/the-kerala-story-teaser-out-36223.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en}}</ref> featured Adah Sharma playing the character of Fathima Ba — a Hindu [[Malayali]] nurse — who had converted to Islam and joined the ISIS, before ending up in an Afghan jail.<ref name=":1" /> She identifies to be one of the 32,000 girls, from the Hindu and [[Christianity in Kerala|Christian]] communities, who are missing from Kerala and have been recruited to the [[Islamic State|Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]] (ISIS) after being converted to Islam. The claimed figures are widely inaccurate, being based on mistranslations, misquotes and extrapolations from misrepresentations of unrelated statistics.<ref name=":0" />  

The [[Observer Research Foundation]] in a 2019 report notes that about 60 to 70 individuals had joined ISIS from Kerala between 2014 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Taneja |first1=Kabir |last2=Sinan Siyech |first2=Mohammed |date=15 October 2019 |title=The Islamic State in India's Kerala: A Primer |url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-islamic-state-in-indias-kerala-a-primer-56634/}}</ref> According to Indian government figures not more than a total of 100 – 200 Indians had joined the organization over the years, one of the smallest figures of any country with a substantial Muslim population. The US Department of State in its 2020 report on terrorism had documented that there were a total of 66 individuals from India who were affiliated with ISIS at that time.<ref name=":0" />

The events portrayed in the film seem to be inspired by four women from [[Kerala]] who converted to Islam and traveled with their husbands to [[Afghanistan]] to join ISIS between 2016 and 2018.<ref name=":3" /> They were part of a 21-member group from Kerala to join ISIS in 2016, remain incarcerated in Afghanistan since surrendering in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Fatima |date=2021-09-09 |title=Taliban back, desperate Kerala families hope couples who fled to Afghanistan for ISIS can return |url=https://theprint.in/india/taliban-back-desperate-kerala-families-hope-couples-who-fled-to-afghanistan-for-isis-can-return/730184/ |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

The makers of the film have claimed that the film is the true story of an instance of "[[love jihad]]" — a [[Hindutva]] [[conspiracy theory]] about non-Muslim women romanced and lured into marriage to convert them to Islam.<ref name=AljKS>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/4/kerala-story-film-on-alleged-indian-isil-recruits-gets-pushback |title=Kerala Story: Film on alleged Indian ISIL recruits gets pushback}}</ref>{{refn|<ref name="Strohl 2018">{{Cite journal|last=Strohl|first=David James|date=11 October 2018|title=Love jihad in India's moral imaginaries: religion, kinship, and citizenship in late liberalism|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09584935.2018.1528209|url-access=subscription|access-date=20 February 2021|journal=Contemporary South Asia|publisher=[[Routledge]]|volume=27|issue=1|pages=27–39|doi=10.1080/09584935.2018.1528209|s2cid=149838857|issn=0958-4935|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128215102/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09584935.2018.1528209|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|4|q=As I explore below, a variety of moral entrepreneurs further the Hindutva cause by stoking fears about love jihad to further marginalize Muslims, mobilize Hindu voters, and renew people's commitments to traditional religious values. I situate these activities within a broader range of Hindutva campaigns in contemporary India and discuss the ways in which earlier Hindu majoritarian campaigns to 'save' women prefigure the current uproar about love jihad.}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sarkar|first=Tanika|date=1 July 2018|title=Is Love without Borders Possible?|url=https://doi.org/10.1057/s41305-018-0120-0|journal=[[Feminist Review]]|language=en|volume=119|issue=1|pages=7–19|doi=10.1057/s41305-018-0120-0|s2cid=149827310|issn=0141-7789|via=[[SAGE Journals]]|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624145034/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1057/s41305-018-0120-0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":62">{{Cite journal|last=Waikar|first=Prashant|year=2018|title=Reading Islamophobia in Hindutva: An Analysis of Narendra Modi's Political Discourse|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/islastudj.4.2.0161|journal=Islamophobia Studies Journal|volume=4|issue=2|pages=161–180|doi=10.13169/islastudj.4.2.0161|jstor=10.13169/islastudj.4.2.0161|issn=2325-8381|via=[[JSTOR]]|access-date=9 January 2021|archive-date=26 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326154334/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.13169/islastudj.4.2.0161|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

=== Opposition ===

Both [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] — the only two parties to have governed the state since [[Indian independence movement|Independence]] — have objected to the release of the film for propagating communal misinformation. They have further alleged that the filmmakers are promoting the agenda of the [[Sangh Parivar]] of defaming Kerala and propagating the love jihad conspiracy theory.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title='The Kerala Story' in the dock |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/the-kerala-story-in-the-dock-1160706.html |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=Cong, DYFI, IUML youth wing demand ban on screening of 'The Kerala Story' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala/the-kerala-story-film-controversy-congress-iuml-dyfi-8581227/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Responding to the allegations, producer Shah has said that "nothing we say will be without evidence" and that Sen had conducted four years of research for the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-26 |title=Vipul Shah on The Kerala Story criticism: 'We are making a film on a big tragedy, nothing will be without evidence' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/vipul-shah-on-the-kerala-story-criticism-we-are-making-a-film-on-a-big-tragedy-nothing-will-be-without-evidence-101672048800149.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>  

After a Tamil Nadu-based journalist filed a complaint with the [[Kerala chief minister]], by stating that false propaganda is being done against Kerala and communal harmony is being destroyed, Kerala state police chief [[Anil Kant]] directed the [[Thiruvananthapuram City Police]] to register a case based on a report by hi-tech crime inquiry cell of [[Kerala Police]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2022-11-09 |title=State Police Chief orders FIR on complaint against The Kerala Story |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/state-police-chief-orders-fir-on-complaint-against-the-kerala-story/article66115586.ece |access-date=2023-04-26 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=കേരളത്തിനെതിരേ വിദ്വേഷ പ്രചരണം; 'ദ കേരള സ്റ്റോറി' ട്രെയ്‌ലറിനെതിരേ വ്യാപക പ്രതിഷേധം |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/amp/movies-music/news/the-kerala-story-trailer-controversy-vipul-amrutlal-shah-sudipto-sen-adah-sharma-1.8514580 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref> However, based on legal counsel's advice, {{As of|2022|11|15|lc=y}}, an [[First information report|FIR]] was not filed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Athimuthu |first=Soundarya |date=2022-11-09 |title='The Kerala Story' Teaser Row: DGP Ordered To Register FIR; Congress Seeks Ban |url=https://www.thequint.com/south-india/the-kerala-story-movie-sparks-controversy-islam-conversion-isis-terrorism-congress-ban-dgp-fir |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2022|11|9}}, the film is subject to an investigation.<ref name=":3" />

On the day of the release of the film, the [[Kerala High Court]] refused to stay the release of the film. It said that the allegations in the film were about ISIS, and not a particular religion. Previously, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] and the [[Madras High Court]] had also rejected similar applications.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/kerala-high-court-refuses-stay-release-movie-the-kerala-story|title="There are umpteen movies depicting Hindu sanyasis as rapists": Kerala High Court refuses to stay release of The Kerala Story}}</ref> The makers agreed to take down the teaser which created the controversial claim that 32,000 girls were recruited in [[Islamic State|ISIS]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kerala Story producer agrees to remove '32,000 women converted' from teaser |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/law/high-courts/story/kerala-story-row-producer-agrees-remove-teaser-conversion-isis-32000-women-2368914-2023-05-05 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

===Critical reception===

''[[The Times of India]]'' rated film 3 out of 5 stars, praised acting of [https://kishansdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/05/adah-sharma.html Adah Sharma] and wrote "the film feels more like a tutorial of radicalization than entertainment for the audience. It also goes to extremes to make its point, and that could be quite unsettling for audiences" as criticism.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Kerala Story Movie Review : Adah Sharma delivers a brave and poignant performance in a thought-provoking film |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/the-kerala-story/movie-review/99996261.cms?_gl=1*gv6atd*_ga*aGVPc0UyVEZjd3lhWTdsY2dtZHhOcE5wdFdNcU5NMi1SVDJmWFJ6czF2VzdoeDdDNlROR0pVTTdaRUVON2xjSQ..&from=mdr |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> [[NDTV]] rated film 0.5 out of 5 stars and termed the film as a "lengthy WhatsApp forward in the guise of a movie which is far from reality'" they also criticised acting in the film and termed writing as "cringe".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kerala Story Review: The Writing Is Consistently Cringeworthy, The Acting Is No Better |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/the-kerala-story-review-the-writing-is-consistently-cringeworthy-the-acting-is-no-better-0-5-star-4007753 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' rated the film 1 star out of 5 star and wrote "The film itself is nothing but a poorly-made, poorly-acted rant which is not interested in interrogating the social complexities of Kerala".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=The Kerala Story movie review: A poorly-made, poorly-acted rant |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/the-kerala-story-movie-review-poorly-made-poorly-acted-rant-8592583/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

''[[Koimoi]]'' rated the film 1.5 star out of 5 star, praised Adah Sharma's acting while criticised Sen for its direction and wrote "Sudipto Sen definitely doesn’t understand the importance of nuances and poignancy in making this movie".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kulkarni |first=Shubham |date=2023-05-04 |title=The Kerala Story Movie Review: If We Thought The Kashmir Files Was Peak Manipulation, We Certainly Weren't Prepared For This Devious Product |url=https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-movies/movie-reviews/the-kerala-story-movie-review-if-we-thought-the-kashmir-files-was-peak-manipulation-we-certainly-werent-prepared-for-this-devious-product/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Koimoi |language=en-US}}</ref> Subodh Mishra of [[Aaj Tak]] rated the film 1 out of 5 star and wrote "An agenda-pushing WhatsApp video turned into a film...a mess of a serious story"''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title='द केरल स्टोरी' रिव्यू: एजेंडा धकेलने वाला व्हाट्सएप वीडियो बनी फिल्म... एक सीरियस कहानी की खिचड़ी |url=https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/film-review/story/the-kerala-story-review-adah-sharma-starrer-is-a-propaganda-spewing-whatsapp-video-more-than-a-film-tmovs-1688553-2023-05-05 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=आज तक |language=hi}}</ref> [[The Hindu]]'' reviewed film and wrote "Adah Sharma’s performance marred by half-truths and an emotionally exploitative gaze" they also criticised Sen and wrote "Sudipto Sen’s treatment is guided more by local politics than cinematic sagacity".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=2023-05-05 |title=‘The Kerala Story’ movie review: Adah Sharma’s performance marred by half-truths and an emotionally exploitative gaze |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/the-kerala-story-movie-review-adah-sharmas-performance-marred-by-half-truths-and-an-emotionally-exploitative-gaze/article66815585.ece |access-date=2023-05-06 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

===Box office===

On its opening day, the film grossed ₹8.03 crore in India,<ref>{{cite web |last=Tuteja |first=Joginder |date=6 May 2023 |title=Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Box Office: Survives steep competition from Bollywood's The Kerala Story on Day 1 |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/guardians-galaxy-vol-3-box-office-survives-steep-competition-bollywoods-kerala-story-day-1/ |access-date=6 May 2023 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> making it the fifth highest opener in India for 2023.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Entertainment Desk |date=6 May 2023 |title=The Kerala Story box office collection Day 1: Sudipto Sen's film gets better opening than Selfiee, Shehzada, Kashmir Files; earns Rs 8.03 cr |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/the-kerala-story-box-office-day-1-sudipto-sen-film-gets-better-opening-than-kashmir-files-8594362/ |access-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>

[[Category:Films about terrorism in Asia]]