‘The Kerala Story is not just a film…’: Union Minister Anurag Thakur lauds Sudipto Sen’s socio-political drama

New Delhi: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur while addressing a public meeting in Gurugram lauded the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’. He also alleged the people protesting against the film support PFI and ISIS. The film addressing the issue of forced religious conversion has become a part of the national discourse with people divided in their opinion.

Anurag Thakur said that ‘The Kerala Story’ is not just a film, rather it unmasks people who want to lure Hindu and Christian girls into the path of terrorism. He went on to say that some political parties are opposing the film and if they are protesting against it, then they support PFI, ISIS, and terrorism.

#WATCH | ‘The Kerala Story’ is not just a film. There are some people who want to lure girls into the path of terrorism, and their face has been exposed in this film. Some political parties are opposing it. If they are protesting then they support PFI, terrorism and ISIS: Union… pic.twitter.com/PIhN4HqFGS

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2023

The Union Minister also made another unverified claim that the girls being lured into religious conversion are sent to the path of terrorism and if they refuse, they are shot.

BJP and other Hindu outfits are supporting and endorsing the film while there is a set of people questioning the credibility of the film presented as a fact of the matter. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also announced ‘The Kerala Story’ to be tax-free in Madhya Pradesh.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, the film follows a converted Muslim woman Fatima Ba narrating how she was abducted and manipulated to turn into an ISIS terrorist and landed in Afghanistan jail. The movie stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani in the lead. ‘The Kerala Story’ was released on May 5 and has attracted audiences to get a good start at the box office.

Note: While religious conversion has emerged as a national issue at many points and is a problem faced in Kerala, we do not endorse the claims made by Anurag Thakur or in the film.