Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday lashed out at the decision to confer two National Film Awards on the controversial film The Kerala Story, calling it a grave insult to the state and a blow to democratic values.
The film’s director Sudipto Sen received the award for Best Director, while Prasantanu Mohapatra was recognised for Best Cinematography. The 2023 film drew sharp criticism for its depiction of alleged mass conversions of women in Kerala to Islam and their recruitment by the Islamic State. Initially, the filmmakers claimed that 32,000 women had joined ISIS, a figure widely discredited, prompting them to later revise the trailer to say the film was based on the stories of three women.
Vijayan accused the award jury of legitimising misinformation and communal propaganda. “By recognising a film that blatantly misrepresents Kerala and spreads communal hatred, the jury has endorsed the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar,” he said. “This isn’t just an attack on Malayalis, but on the very spirit of the Constitution. Those who value truth and democracy must speak out.”
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal echoed the criticism, branding the film as “fit for the dustbin.” He argued that the awards reflected the BJP’s use of cultural platforms to propagate hate. “This is a textbook example of how the BJP uses even national recognitions to further its divisive agenda,” he said.
Venugopal warned that the people of Kerala would not take the slight lightly. “This insult will not be forgotten. The BJP will be rejected so strongly that it won’t dare to dream of gaining support in Kerala for generations,” he declared.
The controversy has reignited debate over the politicisation of national honours and the role of cinema in shaping communal narratives.
