• Source:JND
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The 71st National Awards winner list was announced on August 1. Some wins were lauded while others were criticised. One of the talked about was the controversial movie The Kerala Story, which recived two awards-Best Direction and Best Cinematography. The 2023 movie features Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in pivotal roles. The film was highly controversial for several reasons during its time of release. Now, after winning two awards the movie is again the talk of the town. Jury Chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker explained why the film was chosen for the honours.

In an interview with NDTV, Gowariker said, “The cinematography in The Kerala Story was very stark and realistic. It didn’t ever try to overpower the narrative; the images were created within the realm of things. So, we applauded that.” He also revealed why Sudipto Sen was awarded Best Direction. Gowariker added, “It’s a difficult topic and to convey that with the kind of clarity that as a jury we felt the need to applaud it.”

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The decision to grant two National Awards to The Kerala Story has not been well received by people. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the film’s win and tweeted, “By honouring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala’s image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar.”

He added, “Kerala, a land that has always stood as a beacon of harmony and resistance against communal forces, has been gravely insulted by this decision. It is not just Malayalis, but everyone who believes in democracy must raise their voice in defence of truth and the constitutional values we hold dear.”

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The Kerala Story received backlash since the teaser was released, which claimed 32,000 women were trafficked by ISIS from Kerala. People criticised for being factually misleading. After getting multiple legal petitions, the makers were forced to make changes to the trailer to state that is a work of fiction. The movie was banned in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The movie grossed over Rs 300 crore despite controversy.