West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film 'The Kerala Story' in a bid to avoid “any incident of hatred and violence”.
"To avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state, the CM has directed an immediate ban on screening of The Kerala Story. Action will be taken against any cinema hall that violates the ban," the official told PTI.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee described 'The Kerala Story' as a distorted movie, aimed at defaming the southern state. “I do not support CPM people. They are working with the BJP. They needed to be criticised first. I am telling the Kerala government, it is unfortunate. Your party is working with the BJP,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said at a press briefing at the state secretariat, as reported by Hindustan Times.
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“What is ‘The Kashmir Files?’ it is to humiliate one section. What is ‘The Kerala Story?’… It is a distorted story,” The Indian Express quoted Banerjee as saying.
‘The Kerala Story’, directed by Sudipto Sen, depicts how women from Kerala were converted to Islam and recruited by Islamic State terrorist group. The film was released on May 5.
The film, starring Adah Sharma, written and directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Shah, was screened in theatres across Kerala on the first day of its release. The filmmakers claim it is a compilation of the true stories of three young women from the state, while opposition parties have condemned it as a propaganda film.
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On Sunday, Tamil Nadu theatres also took a step halting the screenings of controversial movie 'The Kerala Story'. The Tamil Nadu Multiplex Association has announced the decision citing law and order situation and poor response to the movie.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said if there is a proposal, the state government will make the film 'The Kerala Story' tax-free.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on May 5 credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies and used it to attack the Congress during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka.
