Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the national film awards given to ‘The Kerala Story,’ calling it a deliberate attempt to misuse cinema for spreading communal hatred. Speaking at the Kerala Film Policy Conclave, Vijayan described the honors—Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography—as an “unfortunate” endorsement of a film that insults Kerala’s secular ethos and defames the state globally. “This sends a dangerous message that art should replace secularism with communalism,” he warned, urging the film community to unite against such portrayals.

The controversial film, which depicts women in Kerala being forcibly converted and recruited by the Islamic State, has sparked widespread debate for its polarizing narrative. Vijayan called on filmmakers to counter this “distorted” depiction and protect Kerala’s cultural legacy, emphasizing the need to safeguard Indian cinema’s heritage.

Inaugurating the conclave at Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall in the Legislative Assembly complex, Vijayan highlighted the need for a comprehensive film policy to modernize and expand Malayalam cinema. He questioned why the industry, despite its rich contributions, lacks deserved recognition and urged delegates to address this at the event.

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State Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian, presiding over the conclave, noted its alignment with the Justice Hema Committee’s recommendations to address sexual exploitation, discrimination, wage disparities, and poor working conditions in the industry, spurred by the Women in Cinema Collective’s advocacy post the 2017 actress assault case.

The event saw around 500 delegates, including Malayalam cinema icons like Mohanlal and Suhasini Maniratnam, alongside national and international film personalities, deliberating on strategies to elevate Kerala’s film industry while tackling systemic issues.

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