Kerala’s top political leadership has sharply criticised the Centre’s decision to honour The Kerala Story with two National Film Awards, describing it as a politically motivated move that undermines the secular and pluralistic fabric of Indian cinema.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated on Friday that while Malayalam cinema achieved notable recognition at the 71st National Film Awards, awarding a film that allegedly tarnishes Kerala’s image and promotes communal falsehoods damages the country’s artistic credibility. Calling it a calculated move by the Sangh Parivar to use cinema as a tool for propaganda, Vijayan said: “This is not just an injustice to Kerala but a blow to the noble tradition of Indian cinema that has stood for religious harmony and national unity.”

He urged democratically minded citizens across the country to speak out against such misuse of art.

Opposition voices echo concern

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan echoed the Chief Minister’s concerns, alleging that the BJP-led government used the National Film Awards to push a “hate campaign”. He stated that awarding The Kerala Story was done purely to advance communal division, targeting Kerala’s pluralistic ethos. At the same time, he extended congratulations to the other Malayalam cinema artists who received honours.

Controversy surrounding the film

The Kerala Story won Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography, but has been mired in controversy since its release. The film was widely criticised for promoting misinformation, particularly the discredited “love jihad” theory, and for claiming that 32,000 women from Kerala joined ISIS — a number not supported by official data.

RTI replies revealed that between 2014 and 2020, only 19 of the 177 individuals arrested across India for alleged ISIS links were from Kerala.

Election-time broadcast, protests and counter-campaign

In early 2024, Doordarshan aired the film shortly before the general elections, sparking protests from both the ruling CPM and the opposition Congress. Screenings by churches in Idukki and the Thamarassery and Thalassery dioceses further highlighted the film’s spread across religious spaces.

Vijayan accused Doordarshan of backing the Sangh Parivar’s communal agenda. In response, the Kerala government launched The Real Kerala Story campaign to uphold secular values and communal harmony.

Critics view the film’s national recognition as a continuation of the Centre’s efforts to use cinema as a vehicle for political messaging.