Amidst a massive controversy of what is real and what is propaganda, Adah Sharma starrer The Kerala Story was finally released in theaters on May 5, 2023. Directed by Sudipto Sen and Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, The Kerala Story trailer was released a few days back and the makers at first stated that the movie is based on a true story showing how 32,000 women belonging to Hindu, Christian, and Sikhs were forcefully converted under the concept of 'love jihad' and manipulation and were sent to Islamic countries like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan as recruits for terrorist organizations like the ISIS. After the The Kerala Story trailer was released many pointed out that facts were wrong and a section of media even challenged the makers to prove their claims that 32,000 women in Kerala were converted to Islam and were recruited to ISIS. Even senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had raised questions on the authenticity of the Kerala Story's claims. After the row intensified, The Kerala Story makers amended their claims saying that the movie is based on three Indian women who were influenced, converted and later sent to Iraq and Syria for recruitment of ISIS. Notably, The Kerala Story Director Sudipto Sen had expressed his surprise that a section of media were raising question on the number of women rather than how and why the women went missing? Keeping the controversies aside, The Kerela Story review is finally out and fans are coming up with their own opinion over the movie.
The Kerala Story Review
After watching first day first show, a user wrote, "Let the people also know the truth. You can't make fools everytime by closing eyes for bitter truth. Showtime"
Another user wrote, "It’s time, India and whole world should know The Kerala story ..Facts shown in the film are very disturbing ..Rating : ****"
"The film “The Kerla Story” is not a propaganda. It’s based on real story. Many newspapers, reports, courts have accepted this." wrote another user.
The film “The Kerla Story” is not a propaganda. It’s based on real story. Many newspapers, reports, courts have accepted this. #MustWatch #TheKeralaStory #TheKeralaStoryReview #TheKeralaStoryTrailer pic.twitter.com/sSN3fC9WU4
— Ashok K Singh (@aksinghlawyer) April 28, 2023
"Make sure everyone in your known circle watches this movie. Even with many censored scenarios from the movie, this will be an eye opener of the immoral practices that's hushed up but should be spoken of more often," wrote another user.
The Kerala Story storyline
The Kerala Story revolves around three clueless girls who join a nursing college hostel in Kasargod, Kerala, and are immediately fed ‘Islam is great, other religions bad’ by their room-mate whi is secret;y working as an ISIS recruiter. The Christian girl who refuses to get converted is raped by several Muslim men. The Hindu girl who refuses to leave India for Syria after conversion is insulted on social media. Last but not least the Hindu girl who gets converted, impregnated, and runs away to Syria manages to escape and confesses at a UN facility.
How do the makers say The Kerala Story is a true story?
In 2021 in an interview with Citti Media, Sudipto Sen stated that he reached the numbers of 32,000 forced conversion of Hindu and Christian girls in Kerala based on his conversation with former Chief Minister of the State Oommen Chandy. As per Sen, Oommen Chandy had stated that "every year approximately 2,800 to 3,200 girls were taking up Islam" and so, it worked up to 32,000 in 10 years. Although AltNews had called it fake, but when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, it was reported that 4 Indian women were lodged in Afghan jail.
Later it was reported that they had gone to Afghanistan to join ISIS. To be precise, the four Indian women lodged in an Afghanistan prison had accompanied their husbands to join the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP). Although their parents requested the Government of India for their freedom and bring them back to India, they were not allowed and were left in an Afghan prison.