Thiruvananthapuram, August 1: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday strongly criticised the decision to award national honours to the controversial film The Kerala Story, accusing the jury of undermining the legacy of Indian cinema by recognising a film he described as communal and misleading.
The film, directed by Sudipto Sen, won the National Award for Best Director and Best Cinematography. It has been widely debated for its depiction of women from Kerala being forcibly converted and recruited by the Islamic State, a narrative that has drawn criticism from various quarters for promoting Islamophobia.
“We register our strong protest against this action. Every Keralite, and indeed every believer in democracy across the country, must raise their voice against this injustice,” Vijayan said in a sharply worded statement. “We must unite against the politics that seeks to turn art into a weapon for fostering communalism.”
The Chief Minister said the award jury’s decision insulted the proud tradition of Indian cinema, which has historically stood for communal harmony and national progress.
Echoing the Chief Minister’s stance, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan also lashed out at the decision, accusing the BJP-led Union government of misusing the National Film Awards to further its ideological agenda. “This is not about cinema; it’s about legitimising a hate campaign,” Satheesan alleged.
The film’s recognition has reignited debate about the intersection of art, politics, and propaganda in India’s film industry.
