After Kamal Haasan, Anurag Kashyap calls 'The Kerala Story' a propaganda film

The film "The Kerala Story" has been a subject of controversy and debate, with actor Kamal Haasan and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap sharing their views on it. The movie, directed by Sudipto Sen, revolves around the story of a Hindu woman from Kerala who is converted to Islam and trafficked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihan, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani.

Anurag Kashyap, while opposing calls for banning the film, acknowledges that it can be seen as a propaganda film. He believes that politics is deeply ingrained in today's cinema and that it is difficult for films to be non-political. He mentions that films like "The Kerala Story" can be considered propaganda but expresses his stance against banning any form of creative expression. Anurag emphasizes that he doesn't want to create counter-propaganda in his own filmmaking.

Previously, Kamal Haasan too expressed similar thoughts on the same. During a media interaction, Haasan expressed his disapproval of the film, labelling it as a propaganda film. He emphasized that simply claiming a film is based on a true story by placing a logo at the bottom is not enough. Haasan insisted that the authenticity of the narrative is crucial and believed that "The Kerala Story" failed in that regard.

Furthermore, Haasan expressed his concerns about the prevalence of a monoculture in cinema, asserting that diverse perspectives should be embraced. He highlighted the significance of resonating with the audience, stating that cinema should evoke genuine emotions and connect with people.

"The Kerala Story" has faced significant controversy and petitions challenging its release due to its subject matter. The movie has so far raised over Rs 200 crore at the domestic box office.