'The Kerala Story' controversy continues as Producers Guild of India objects 'state-enforced bans'

The Producers Guild of India has expressed strong opposition to the calls for a ban on Sudipto Sen's latest film, The Kerala Story. In an official statement released on Tuesday, the Guild expressed their dismay at state-enforced bans on films and urged authorities to address this phenomenon. Their statement read, ""The Producers Guild of India is distressed by, and would like to record its strong objection to, state-enforced bans on The Kerala Story. As emphasized by us on several occasions in the past, film releases are regulated by CBFC and any film that complies with this statutory requirement should face no further hurdles in having the paying public decide on its fate."

It also added, "Of course, the audience can choose to watch or ignore any film but that is a choice that should be theirs to make, not one that is imposed on them by any party other than CBFC. We call upon all the relevant authorities to urgently address this all-too-frequent phenomenon of films being denied their right to unfettered, nation-wide exhibition despite having duly complied with regulatory requirements."

The Kerala Story, which stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani, has been facing protests across India due to its controversial storyline. The film's trailer had claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS, which triggered a political debate and led many to question the accuracy of the claim. However, the figure was later removed from the trailer in response to protests.

On Monday, West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, banned the film in the state, a decision that the director, Sudipto Sen, called "politically motivated." Sen urged Banerjee to watch the film before making any decisions. Despite the controversy, the film was released in theaters last Friday.

The Producers Guild of India's statement comes amid ongoing debates surrounding censorship and freedom of expression in India's film industry. Many filmmakers have criticized the frequent state-enforced bans on films, arguing that they stifle creativity and harm the industry's growth. The Guild's statement is a call for greater regulatory clarity and a pushback against the trend of banning films before they even have a chance to be shown to audiences.