Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher endorse the controversial film “The Kerala Story”
The recently released film, “The Kerala Story,” has garnered criticism for its controversial and anti-Muslim narrative. Despite the backlash, Indian actors Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher have shown support for the film on social media. Azmi tweeted that calls to ban the movie were just as wrong as attempts to ban Aamir Khan’s “Laal Singh Chaddha.”
The movie depicts a group of women from Kerala who are allegedly coerced into converting to Islam and joining the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The film’s posters show the women as happy in shalwar kameez but traumatized when wearing abayas.
Tamil Nadu Multiplex Association decided to stop screening the film in the state due to protests and low audience turnout. Kerala’s chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has also criticized the movie, stating that it promotes communal polarization and hate propaganda.
Anupam Kher, who was part of another controversial film called “Kashmir Files,” which was also accused of being anti-Muslim, said in an interview that he has not seen “The Kerala Story” yet but supports movies that are realistic. He also argued that those who believe the film is propaganda are free to make their own films on the same subject.
The Kerala High Court has refused to issue a stay order on the movie’s release. Despite this, the film’s controversial storyline continues to generate debate and spark protests in different parts of India.
