New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday attended a special screening of controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’ directed by Sudipto Sen in the state capital Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the special screening of the film at 11.30 am in the Lok Bhavan auditorium.
A tweet from CM Yogi’s official Twitter handle confirmed that the chief minister and his cabinet members watched the controversial film at Lok Bhavan.
The UP chief minister was seen dressed in traditional saffron attire during a special screening of the film starring Adah Sharma, which has faced strong backlash and criticism ever since the first official trailer of the film was released. CM Yogi Adityanath had earlier met the producers and artists of The Kerala Story in Lucknow. The Chief Minister met and interacted with actress Adah Sharma, director Sudipto Sen and producer and creative head Vipul Amritlal Shah.
Had a courtesy call on the team of ‘The Kerala Story’ film at the official residence in Lucknow today. pic.twitter.com/bfj7sswOTU— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) May 10, 2023
The controversial film focusing on the alleged radicalization and conversion of young Hindu women to Islam in Kerala, before their induction into the global terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), is hitting the theaters on May 5.
The Kerala Story Tax Free in UP, MP and Haryana
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced that ‘The Kerala Story’ would be made tax-free in the state. The Uttar Pradesh CM took to Twitter to make this announcement. Prior to the UP government, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also shared a video on his official Twitter handle, announcing that The Kerala Story would now be tax-free in Madhya Pradesh.
Announcing the film, the CM of Madhya Pradesh said, ‘The story of Kerala makes people aware about love-jihad, terrorism and religion. The film also throws light on how girls are trapped in the name of religion. anymore.”
The ML Khattar government of Haryana has also made The Kerala Story tax free. The CM of the state tweeted, ‘Kerala Story has been made tax free in Haryana.’
SC, HC refuse to stay the release of the film
Earlier, the Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court had refused to stay the petitions challenging the film’s release and the CBFC certification granted to the film. The apex court observed that the producers have invested money in the film and the actors have dedicated their labour, and it is “for the market to decide” whether the film is not up to the mark.
A petition seeking a stay on its release was first mentioned on 2 May. The top court declined to entertain the plea, saying it was “the worst kind of hate speech” and an “audio-visual propaganda”. On May 3, the matter was again mentioned for urgent listing, but the apex court refused to consider it and asked the petitioners, including ‘Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind’, to approach the High Court.
The bench noted that the Central Board of Film Certification has already certified the film. “Look at it from the filmmaker’s point of view. How often does he face challenges? After all, someone has put in the money and the actors who have starred in the film have dedicated their labor. We need to be in the exhibition about Must be very careful.” of films. The market will decide if it is not up to the mark,” the bench, also comprising Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala, said.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was also filed in the Kerala High Court against certain statements in the film’s teaser and trailer. It sought cancellation of the CBFC certificate for public exhibition granted to the film by the Censor Board.
In a public interest litigation before the High Court, the petitioner sought the court’s direction to the film’s director Sudipto Sen, its producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and the production company Sunshine Pictures, before the film’s release, to delete or delete certain statements, particularly those requested. The film is said to have been inspired by true stories and 32,000 women from Kerala were converted to Islam and joined the Islamic State (IS).