The Kerala Story: Why a controversial Indian film about the Islamic State is released
In India, a recent movie that purports to portray the tale of Hindu and Christian women who were persuaded to join the Islamic State (IS) organisation has caused a great uproar.
Many opposition leaders have denounced the film The Kerala Story, which is based in the southern state of Kerala. Some have referred to it as propaganda and an effort to sabotage religious unity.
However, it has garnered backing from BJP officials in power, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hailed it at a recent political rally. Additionally, some party members have held screenings and given away free tickets.
Many mainstream critics have criticised the movie for its performances and “lack of nuance”; one said that the movie’s ideas about Islam and [religious] conversion appeared to have come from hate-filled WhatsApp groups.
The movie’s box office success, however, has been “extraordinary” for a low-budget production.
The movie faced legal challenges and mounting criticism in April as its release date approached. The Kerala high court refused to stay the release, but the film’s makers agreed to remove the teaser, which gave the contentious figure of 32,000 women. Its description on YouTube was also changed to “the compilation of the true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala”.
In 2021, after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, Indian officials had said that four women from Kerala who had joined the IS were in jail there. A police official from Kerala told the BBC last year on condition of anonymity that “there are not more than 10–15 women who have got converted and left to join the IS from Kerala since 2016”.
After the film’s release, it was praised by many supporters who said it dealt with an important issue that deserved to be discussed. Two state governments — Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, both governed by the BJP — have made the film tax-free.
Others, however, have accused it of demonising Muslims and peddling Islamophobia.
In Tamil Nadu state, an association of multiplex owners said they would stop screening the film, citing protests and low audiences. West Bengal, governed by the Trinamool Congress, banned the film, saying it “could be dangerous to peace and order”.
The ban has been criticised by some filmmakers and several BJP leaders, including at least two federal ministers. On Friday, India’s Supreme Court will hear a petition from the film’s makers against the ban.
The movie has also spawned social media campaigns, with many users using the hashtags #MyKeralaStory and #RealKeralaStory to share stories of religious unity in Kerala.
Singer TM Krishna claimed that he has performed in front of “people who belong to diverse faiths” in “innumerable temples” throughout the state over the previous 20 years.
Political cartoonist EP Unny posted a picture portraying a mosque, temple, and church coexisting in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, referring to it as “the real Kerala story.”
Kerala, one of India’s states with the most progressive reputations, is frequently recognised for its interfaith harmony. 33 million people live in Kerala, and 27% of those are Muslims and 18% are Christians, according to the most recent census in 2011.