The Kerala Story is the movie that has been in the columns for the last few months nationwide. Claiming to be “based on real incidents”, many argue this movie to be a political propaganda film. Undoubtedly the announcement of this movie’s release left the country divided over the real intentions of the movie and its makers.
Released on 5th May 2023, this film has received mixed responses from the audience. While some states banned the film, a significant part of the audience appreciated the film for portraying some “eye-opening incidents” taking place in the country, especially in Kerala. Despite so much happening around the film, one might question whether this film is worth watching or not. Though it’s completely a matter of choice, today we are bringing some facts and realities from The Kerala Story.
The Kerala Story Movie Review: Is The Controversial Movie Worth Watching Or Not?
The Kerala Story Movie Review
The controversy began right from the day of its announcement. After launching the trailer for The Kerala Story Movie, the viewers strongly discouraged it for stating wrong facts. The trailer summed up this film as a tale of 3 girls in Kerala who were converted to Islam and eventually recruited by the terrorist organisation ISIS. Director Sudipto Sen claimed this movie to be the story of 32000 girls from Kerala recruited for ISIS. This fact itself was incorrect as per the Government report, and soon the makers altered it from 32000 to 3 girls.
However, barring all the political complexities, the film appeared to offer something different when it came to the cast and production of the movie.
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The film encapsulates the lives of 3 young nursing students persuaded to adopt the Islamic faith by their roommate, Asifa, who was clandestine for ISIS. The complete story is retold by the protagonist, Shalini, also called Fatima, as she is interrogated by the police officials. Through her perspective, the makers have tried to portray the movie.
Asifa, being the Muslim character, is shown negatively as she brainwashes her friends to change their beliefs. She and her male associates trap the girls in romantic liaisons and persuasively convert them to Islam. This episode in The Kerala Story movie has raised questions, particularly for portraying the girls as unaware and alluring, and has promoted the concept of Love-Jihad. Belonging to a multi-faith state, the characters being ignorant of other religious practices substantiated a very loose storyline.
Throughout the film, the ideas of radicalisation are shown in a very shady and incomplete manner. The “true incidents” that the movie claims to represent have become fragmentary and drastic. The storyline has been written vaguely and lacks the expected maturity while portraying something as sensitive as this issue. Though from the first look, actress Adah Sharma playing Shalini looked promising with her craft. However, her performance couldn’t enhance the storyline. Supporting characters played by Siddhi Idnani, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani and Pranay Pachauri have tried their best to portray their respective characters, but that didn’t help the film much.
The cinematography and screenplay though gripping in some instances, couldn’t keep the audience captivated throughout. Some scenes have felt to be dreary and questionable in the film. The shots capturing the hard and anguished life in Afghanistan have been intriguing and can be said to be the only successful scenes in The Kerala Story movie that has delivered its anticipation.
The film would have been much better if it had portrayed the case from other diverse and intriguing perspectives. The film feels to be more of an extremist idea than a source of entertainment that has been brutal and unjustified to some communities of India. Despite being a movie with an incomplete storyline, amateurish screenplay and obscure production, a major part of its viewer have not only enjoyed but also believed in the facts of The Kerala Story.
As a report by MoJo Story and Brut India, almost every viewer interviewed is seen to be appreciating the makers of The Kerala Story. However, the facts presented are not completely true and have seemed to be altered to propagate certain disruptive ideas in society. This case is true for only 3 girls across Kerala and not more than 30,000 women. As per the US State Department reports of 2021, ISIS had recruited 6 women from India, of which only 3 were converted to Islam from Christianity and Hinduism.
Moreover, the rate of forced conversions has been much less in reality than claimed and portrayed in the movie. When the makers of The Kerala Story were asked to provide evidence supporting their claims, they presented some manipulated facts initially and later completely ignored the questions raised. Barring all these political and unjustified controversies, The Kerala Story movie has not showcased the cinematic excellence that it could have.
Though its box office collections highlight a different picture, this movie has faced some of the strongest critiques from critics and decent viewers. Had the makers of The Kerala Story presented the complete truth compellingly and transparently, this movie could have been a splendid and captivating film. Considering the current scenario of the nation, it is immensely sad to see a film like The Kerala Story providing an unsettling and polarising brunt on the minds of the country.
Let us know in the comments below your views on The Kerala Story movie and whether it is worth watching.
