‘The Kerala Story’ Wins Two Honours at 71st National Film Awards Despite Past Controversy

New Delhi, August 2 — The Kerala Story, a Hindi film that sparked nationwide debate upon its release in 2023 over its depiction of religious conversion, has bagged two major honours at the 71st National Film Awards. The film won Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra.

Produced by Vipul Shah and led by actor Adah Sharma, The Kerala Story portrays the alleged cases of women from Kerala being forced to convert and subsequently recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). Upon its release, the film faced bans in states like West Bengal, while multiplexes in Tamil Nadu halted its screening citing law and order concerns. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh granted it tax-free status.

The Feature Film Jury, headed by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, acknowledged the film in the two award categories. Explaining the jury’s decision, Gowariker told mediapersons, “The cinematography in The Kerala Story was very stark and realistic. It didn’t overpower the narrative, and the images were created within the realm of things, so we applauded that.”

On naming Sudipto Sen as Best Director, Gowariker said, “It’s a difficult topic, and to convey it with such clarity is something we felt needed to be applauded.”

The recognition of The Kerala Story at the National Film Awards marks a significant moment for the film, which was both heavily criticised and widely supported during its theatrical run.