At the 71st National Film Awards Sudipto Sen was honored with the Best Director award for his film The Kerala Story. The movie features Adah Sharma in the lead role supported by Yogita Bihani Sonia Balani and Siddhi Idnani. Sharma portrays Shalini Unnikrishnan a Hindu woman from Kerala who undergoes a harrowing transformation after being coerced into converting to Islam and joining the Islamic State. What is the storyline? The Kerala Story delves into controversial narrative of young women from Kerala being radicalized and recruited by extremist groups. The film presents dramatized account of Shalinis journey highlighting the psychological manipulation and exploitation she faces. While the filmmakers claim the story is based on real events critics have challenged its authenticity noting a lack of concrete evidence to support the depicted scenarios. What were the controversies that surrounded The Kerala Story? The films release sparked widespread debate with supporters lauding it for shedding light on issues of national security while opponents criticized it for promoting Islamophobic sentiments. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) endorsed film with some states even making it tax-free whereas opposition parties and civil society groups raised alarms over its divisive content. How was the box office reception? Upon its release The Kerala Story achieved remarkable box office success grossing over Rs 200 crore in India which was made under Rs 15-20 crore. These numbers underscored the films ability to engage audiences with its bold and heart-wrenching approach. However movie faced bans and protests in certain states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu due to concerns over its potential to incite communal tensions. The film also led to a legal battle due to which the Supreme Court mandated disclaimers clarifying the fictionalized nature of the story and the lack of verified data supporting its claims. More about The Kerala Story Apart from lead stars the supporting cast includes Benedict Garrett Pranay Pachauri Vijay Krishna and others who play critical roles in shaping the film’s emotional and ideological tension. The film is currently streaming on Zee5 and has received IMDb rating of 6.9. More about 71st National Awards In addition to Sudipto Sens accolade the 71st National Film Awards recognized several other notable contributions to Indian cinema. 12th Fail was awarded Best Feature Film with Vikrant Massey sharing the Best Actor award alongside Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan. Rani Mukerji received Best Actress award for her role in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was honored as the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
