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In a statement, Chief Minister Vijayan said the film was “made with lies to defame Kerala and spread communalism”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (File photo)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday condemned the decision to award ‘The Kerala Story‘ at the 71st National Film Awards, calling it an insult to the “noble tradition of Indian cinema”.
The film, directed by Sudipto Sen, won Best Director and Best Cinematography (for Prasantanu Mohapatra), prompting backlash from the Kerala government. The controversial 2023 release had faced widespread criticism for allegedly misrepresenting facts and portraying Kerala in a communal light.
In a statement, Chief Minister Vijayan said the film was “made with lies to defame Kerala and spread communalism”. He added that by honouring such a film, the awards jury had “insulted the noble tradition of Indian cinema that stood for religious brotherhood and national integration.”
By honouring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala’s image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury of the #NationalFilmAwards has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar. Kerala, a…— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) August 1, 2025
The Chief Minister further alleged that the move reflected the ideological agenda of the Sangh Parivar. “They implementing the Sangh Parivar agenda of turning cinema into a weapon to implement the communal agenda,” he said.
Vijayan urged all democratic-minded citizens and Malayalis to speak out against what he described as a grave injustice.
“Every Malayali and all democratic believers in the country should raise their voice against this injustice. We must rally against politics that turns art into a weapon to foster communalism,” he stated.
Additionally, Kerala’s Education Minister V Sivankutty also voiced his disapproval. In a post on X, he congratulated the Kerala winners—Urvashi, Vijayaraghavan, and Christo Tomy—but criticised the decision to award ‘The Kerala Story’.
Congrats to all the National Film Awards 2025 winners from Kerala, especially @christotomy for ‘Ullozhukku’, Urvashi and Vijayaraghavan for supporting roles. However, recognising ‘The Kerala Story’, a film that spreads hate and baseless allegations, devalues all other awards.— V. Sivankutty (@VSivankuttyCPIM) August 1, 2025
“Recognising ‘The Kerala Story,’ a film that spreads hate and baseless allegations, devalues all other awards,” he wrote.
‘The Kerala Story‘ has remained one of the most polarising films in recent years. The film depicts the alleged radicalisation and trafficking of women from Kerala, a narrative many have dismissed as exaggerated and misleading. Despite this, the film was a commercial hit, grossing over Rs 300 crore globally.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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