‘The Kerala Story’ Makers’ Challenge Bengal Govt’s Ban On Film’s Screening; SC To Hear Matter On May 12

New Delhi: The makers of the film ‘The Kerala Story’ have moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the West Bengal government to ban its screening in the state. The top court has agreed to hear the matter on Friday, May 12. On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film to avoid “any incident of hatred and violence”. In Tamil Nadu, multiplexes cancelled screenings citing law and order situation and poor audience turnout.

The Producers Guild of India issued a statement condemning the ban. “The Producers Guild of India is distressed by, and would like to record its strong objection to, state-enforced bans on ‘The Kerala Story’. As emphasised by us on several occasions in the past, film releases are regulated by CBFC and any film that complies with this statutory requirement should face no further hurdles in having the paying public decide on its fate. Of course, the audience can choose to watch or ignore any film but that is a choice that should be theirs to make, not one that is imposed on them by any party other than CBFC,” the guild said in a statement.

“The Kerala Story”, directed by Sudipto Sen, depicts how women from Kerala were forcefully converted and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film, which was released on May 5, features Adah Sharma.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has also spoken against the banning of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’. He said that banning a film is wrong “be it propaganda or counter propaganda’.

Anurag Kashyap took to Twitter to express his views and wrote, “You agree with the film or not, be it propaganda, counter propaganda, offensive or not, to ban it is just wrong.”