The Kerela Story: 10 things you need to know about the controversial film

New Delhi: As Hindi Social Drama ‘The Kerela Story’ is readying to release at theatres tomorrow i.e. 5th May, the protests against the movie have intensified.

However, a petition to put a stay on its screening across the country has been declined by Supreme Court.

Here’s all you need to know about the contentious ‘The Kerela Story’

1. The film is directed by Sudipto Sen. And it is noteworthy that the director is no stranger to controversies. His previous works include In The Name Of Love, Battle of Saraighat, Lucknow Times, and other unpopular projects.

2. The lead actress Adah Sharma has also attracted a lot of criticism for the movie which is based on false figures. However, Adah defended the film saying that it is based on facts only.

3. The plot revolves around ‘Love Jihad’ which eventually leads to conversion to Islam. The story features normal college-going girls getting brainwashed into the agenda of ISIS.

4. The makers earlier emphasized the number of 32,000 women who have allegedly been converted to Islam and coerced into terrorist organizations.

5. However, after they found no empirical data to support the claim, they changed the number from 32,000 women to 3 women.

6. Just as the movie’s trailer stirred controversies, a petition seeking its stay was filed with Supreme Court. The petition argued that the film is the worst kind of hate speech.

7. Supreme Court, however, refused to intervene in the matter citing that the film is cleared by the censor board and has gotten its certification accordingly.

8. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor firmly expressed his opposition to the film via a series of Tweets. He accused the makers of distorting the state’s reality.

9. Shashi Tharoor made an offer of Rs 1 crore for anyone who can prove that 32,000 women from Kerela have been forcefully converted to Islam.

10. The producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Director Sudipto Sen told the news agency PTI that they stand by the claim of 32,000 women. Earlier, Sen told the media that he will provide proof of the figure after the film is released.