Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 1: The Kerala Story, a film that sparked intense debate upon its release in 2023 over allegations of religious propaganda, has now bagged two major honours at the 71st National Film Awards.

The film, which revolves around the controversial theme of forced religious conversion and alleged recruitment of women from Kerala into the Islamic State (IS), won Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra. Produced by Vipul Shah and headlined by actor Adah Sharma, the film has remained in the spotlight since its release.

Despite bans in West Bengal and halted screenings in Tamil Nadu citing law and order issues, the movie was given tax-free status in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.

Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, who chaired the Feature Film Jury, defended the jury’s decision. Speaking to NDTV, Gowariker said, “The cinematography in The Kerala Story was stark and realistic, never overpowering the narrative. We applauded that.”

On awarding Sudipto Sen, Gowariker added, “It’s a difficult topic, and to convey it with the kind of clarity that he did, we felt it deserved recognition.”

While the film continues to face criticism from political and social quarters, especially in Kerala, its recognition by the National Film Awards has reignited debate on artistic freedom and the thin line between storytelling and ideology.