Soon after the teaser of 'The Kerala Story' was released in 2022, it stirred controversy with its claim that 32,000 women from Kerala were forcefully converted and recruited to the militant outfit ISIS.
The movie, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, stars Adah Sharma in the lead role.
The trailer of the much-controversial film was shared by the makers on April 26.
What's in the trailer?
The trailer opens with the introduction of Shalini Unnikrishnan, a Hindu from Kerala, played by Adah Sharma, who is seen enjoying a carefree life. However, the trailer takes a darker turn as it shows Shalini being held captive by two gun-laden women belonging to ISIS.
It goes on to portray some Muslim men instigating others to get into relationships with women and then handing them over to ISIS.
The trailer also showcases Adah Sharma's religious conversion, wedding, and her being trafficked to Pakistan. Additionally, it depicts Muslim women being manhandled, chained, and tortured.
Check out 'The Kerala Story' trailer here:
Teaser was released last year
The teaser of the film, released on November 2 last year, claimed to uncover the mystery behind the missing 32,000 women in Kerala. Adah Sharma was quoted in the teaser, saying that there is a dangerous game being played in Kerala to convert normal girls to dangerous terrorists, and it is happening in front of everyone's eyes.
However, Alt News later found that Sudipto Sen had misquoted two former Kerala chief ministers to lend credibility to his take on the state of affairs in Kerala.
A petition was signed to ban the film
After the release of the teaser, a Tamil Nadu journalist petitioned the Central Board of Film Certification, the Kerala Chief Minister's Office, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to place a ban on the film.
The journalist requested that the director and producer submit documents confirming the accuracy of the information presented in the teaser.
There were also criticisms of the teaser from various quarters, including Congress leader VD Satheesan, who called for a ban on the film for spreading misinformation.
Verdict
The trailer of 'The Kerala Story' has added fuel to the fire, with many calling for a boycott of the film. The portrayal of Muslims in the trailer has been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes and promoting Islamophobia.
The film has also been accused of sensationalizing a sensitive issue for commercial gain.
