Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, "The Kerala Story" is a Hindi-language film released in 2023. It stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani as the main cast members. The film revolves around a group of women from Kerala who are allegedly converted to Islam and recruited into the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It is based on the controversial and debunked conspiracy theory of "love jihad," falsely claiming that thousands of women from Kerala are being forcibly converted to Islam and indoctrinated into extremist organizations like ISIS.
The film's storyline depicts the supposed journey of these Kerala girls who join ISIS, exploring their alleged motivations and experiences. It highlights the narrative of "love jihad," which alleges that Muslim men purposefully convert non-Muslim women to Islam through romantic relationships as part of a larger agenda. However, it is important to note that this theory has been widely discredited and considered baseless by experts and scholars.
"The Kerala Story" has garnered negative reviews from critics, with some labeling it as propaganda. The movie has been accused of promoting a divisive and Islamophobic agenda. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India has endorsed and actively promoted the film during their political campaign for the Karnataka assembly election, claiming it to be based on truth. However, the film has faced significant pushback, with several legal cases, protests, and refusals by theaters to screen it, particularly in the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Opposition parties such as the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have accused the filmmakers of defaming the state of Kerala and advancing the agenda of right-wing organizations like the Sangh Parivar.
Despite the controversy surrounding it, "The Kerala Story" was released in theaters on May 5, 2023. It has generated substantial box office earnings, becoming one of the top-grossing Hindi films of the year. However, it is important to approach the film with caution and critically evaluate its claims, as it fictionalizes a contentious and debunked narrative.
