Kerala Story Removed From Theatres Due To Lack Of Positive Reception From The Audience - Tamil Nadu Government

The State responded to a petition filed by the creators of The Kerala Story regarding the alleged shadow ban of the movie in Tamil Nadu. The State, in its counter affidavit presented to the Supreme Court on Monday, refuted the filmmakers' claim of a government-imposed shadow ban. Instead, it stated that the movie was removed from theaters due to a lack of positive reception from the audience.

According to the petition filed by the movie makers, they alleged that the State issued an "alert" ahead of the film's release, anticipating protests, which resulted in theaters withdrawing the movie. They argued that the informal communication from State authorities to film exhibitors conveyed the government's lack of support for the film's screening.

However, the State denied imposing a shadow ban on the movie in the State. It emphasized that the film was released in 19 multiplexes, and the petitioners failed to provide any evidence showing that the State prohibited the movie's screening.

Contrarily, the State claimed that it actually increased police presence at each multiplex to ensure a peaceful movie-watching experience and prevent any law and order issues for the audience.

The State emphasized that it was the cinema theatre owners themselves who chose to stop screening the film due to its poor response, and the State of Tamil Nadu has no authority to increase viewership other than providing security to the theaters screening the movie.

"The Kerala Story" is a Hindi film released on May 5, depicting a group of women from Kerala joining ISIS. Even before its release, the film faced criticism from various sources. In Kerala, both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress party alleged that the movie promotes a false narrative and an agenda of right-wing organizations.

The petition filed in the Supreme Court challenges not only the alleged shadow ban in Tamil Nadu but also the decision of the West Bengal government to ban the movie's screening in the state.

On May 5, the Kerala High Court rejected a request to halt the film's release. After reviewing the teaser and trailer, Justices N Nagaresh and Sophy Thomas concluded that the film did not contain anything against Islam or Muslims as a whole but focused on the terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

An appeal against this decision is currently pending before the Supreme Court. It is worth noting that multiple petitions were filed in various courts across the country against the movie.

On May 4, the Madras High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to ban the movie, citing that a similar challenge was already being heard by the Kerala High Court and the petitioner had approached the court at the eleventh hour.

Similarly, the Supreme Court declined to intervene or issue any orders prior to the film's release.