• By Sukanya Saha
  • Tue, 09 May 2023 04:41 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The director of the film "The Kerala Story," Sudipto Sen, has claimed that the recent ban on the film by the West Bengal government was motivated by political reasons. In a recent interview, he requested that the state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, watch the film before making a final decision. Sudipto Sen recalled how, in 2018, Mamata Banerjee was the first political leader to support the movie Padmaavat when it faced a similar ban.

The West Bengal government has become the first state to prohibit the screening of The Kerala Story, a film that recounts the experiences of three women who were trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage. The state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has explained that the ban was implemented to prevent any incidents of hostility and violence and to uphold peace in the region.

Speaking to ANI, Sudipto said, "Not a single untoward incident has happened in the state because of the film. The decision to ban the film is politically motivated. I request her to watch the film and then take any decision...I am not a politician, I am a filmmaker.

"I can only make a film, you want to see it or not that you guys will decide. There was no problem when the film was released in Kolkata for four days, suddenly Didi felt that there could be law and order issues Mahua Moitra, Mamata Banerjee, they are the champion of free speech, human rights.

"I requested her to watch the film first and not to decide on people's opinions. You will like the film, you will be proud that the Bengali director made this responsible film. After watching the film, everyone started liking the film so much that all the debate ended automatically. There was one problem that too was not a major problem in Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Tamil Nadu Multiplexes To Stop Screening Of 'The Kerala Story'

"There was a guy who use to threaten the movie hall owners. Every time, if there is any issue in Tamil Nadu that particular gentleman use to stand by and created problems. After all this, the Tamil Nadu High Court allowed us and said there is no logic to ban the film if the censor board has already given the clearance."

Meanwhile, the movie has been granted tax exemption in Madhya Pradesh and will also be tax-free in Uttar Pradesh. The film initially sparked a huge controversy when its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had disappeared and joined ISIS, a terrorist group. However, following protests, the controversial figure was eventually removed from the trailer.

(With ANI inputs)