The Kerala Story

Story:

“The Kerala Story,” a Hindi-language drama film released in 2023, is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The cast includes Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani. The movie’s narrative revolves around a group of women from Kerala who are coerced into changing their religion to Islam and becoming part of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Marketed as a true story, the film is based on the controversial “love jihad” conspiracy theory associated with Hindutva ideology, making false claims about the mass conversion of Hindu women from Kerala to Islam and their recruitment into ISIS.

Plot

Fatima stands accused of terrorism and apprehended at the border between Afghanistan and Iran. During her interrogation, she reveals her true identity as Shalini Unnikrishanan, hailing from Kerala. She discloses that she was manipulated into becoming a terrorist. Shalini used to reside with her mother and grandmother in Kerala before moving to the city to pursue nursing studies. There, she befriended three individuals: Nimah Matthew, Gitanjali, and Asifa.

The bond between these four girls grew strong, with Asifa, a member of an Islamic Jihadist group, consistently emphasizing the belief in a single religion and a solitary god, asserting that those who didn’t adhere would not attain salvation. Asifa, along with Abdul and Rameez, orchestrated a situation that instilled fear in Shalini and Gitanjali, compelling them to wear Hijabs and embrace the belief in the sole existence of a deity, while Nimah, sensing something amiss, distanced herself from the group and eventually separated from them.

Shalini’s life took a dire turn when she became pregnant by Abdul. As part of a planned escape, Abdul left, leaving Shalini with no choice but to convert to Islam. She was coerced into marrying Ishaq, believing it would secure a better future for herself and her child. However, Shalini remained unaware that she would be subjected to unlawful deportation across numerous borders and ultimately taken to Syria, where she would be coerced into becoming a suicide bomber.

Release and Collection

“The Kerala Story” made its debut in cinemas on May 5, 2023. With a global box office earnings of ₹303.97 crore (equivalent to US$38 million), it secured the fifth spot among the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2023. This film received extensive promotion from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which utilized it as a part of their campaigning efforts for the Karnataka assembly election. However, film critics widely panned it, criticizing the content for promoting Islamophobia. As a result, the movie garnered overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. Additionally, “The Kerala Story” encountered extended legal battles and protests, primarily centered in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.