The Kerala Story: Screenings forced to cancel in several districts of Kerala on release day despite the court clearance

The Kerala Story’s screenings have been cancelled, on the opening day, in several Kerala districts after protests against the move.

Two shows that were listed to be screened have been cancelled in Kochi. The theatre owners at Kochi’s Lulu Mall, PVR Cinemas, and Centre Square Mall have decided not to screen the film. However, they’ve not stated any reasons for not screening the film. Furthermore, other movie theatres in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kannur, and Wayanad districts have made similar decisions to not screen the movie.

While theatres and distributors had agreed to show the movie on 50 screens throughout Kerala; however, many pulled out right before the release. Thereafter, the makers decided to run the film on 17 screens. However, it is not yet known how many theatres will show the movie.

It is pertinent to note that only three theatres in the Ernakulam district will now show this film. It will be shown in Shenoys in Kochi City, Carnival Cinemas in Kariyad, and Dharshana Cinema Complex in Piravom.

Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to entertain an Interlocutory Application (IA) challenging the release of the movie “The Kerala Story” on May 2.

Even the Kerela High Court rejected the petition to stall the film screening on May 5. The Court observed, “Nothing will happen just because the film is screened. The teaser of the film was released in November. What was offensive in the film? What is wrong in saying that Allah is the only God? The country gives the citizen the right to believe in their religion and God and spread it. What was offensive in the trailer?”.

The Court stated, “So many movies have already come out about such organisations. There have been references against Hindu monks and Christian priests in many films before. Did you see all this in the way of fiction? What is so special now? How does this movie create sectarianism and conflict in the society?”. The bench of Justice N Nagaresh and Justice Mohammed Nias CP gave this decision.

‘The Kerala Story’, stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani in the lead roles, has been released on May 5. The film is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s movie production house.

In the film, actress Adah Sharma plays the role of Fathima Ba, a Hindu Malayali nurse who went missing from Kerala and were recruited by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) after being forced to convert to Islam.