Despite admitting that he has not watched The Kerala Story, Anupam Kher asserted that the same individuals who attacked The Kashmir Files are now pursuing Sudipto Sen’s contentious movie.
Actor Anupam Kher has reacted to the controversy raging around the recently released film The Kerala Story. The actor has said that those who are opposing director Sudipto Sen’s film are the same people who also opposed his 2022 film, The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri. Both these films have drawn criticism for being propaganda. The West Bengal government recently banned the film, amid fear of protests.
In an interview with ANI, Anupam said that he hasn’t watched the film yet, but added, “Again, I would say they are the same faces. I have not seen the film but I am happy that people are making films which are close to reality. And those who feel it is a propaganda are free to make movies dealing with the subject they find perfect. No one is stopping them.”
The Kerala Story, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles. The trailer of the film originally claimed that 32,000 women from the state went missing and later joined ISIS. However, this figure was altered to three after people questioned the authenticity of the claims.
Announcing a ban on the film, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie The Kerala Story. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state. What is The Kashmir files? it is to humiliate one section. What is The Kerala story?… It is a distorted story.”
Shabana Azmi has reacted to people asking to ban the film. In a tweet, she wrote, “Those who speak of banning #The Kerala Story are as wrong as those who wanted to ban Aamir Khan’s #Laal Singh Chaadha. Once a film has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification nobody has the right to become an extra constitutional authority.”
Amid all this, The Kerala Story has made Rs 45 crore at the box office.
