Kolkata: West Bengal government on Monday had banned the movie ‘The Kerala Story’.
According to the state secretariat Nabanna sources, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had asked the administration to ban the film in keeping with peace and sovereignty of the state.
“The scenes which are shown in the movie can disrupt the peace of the state for which it is banned,” said the Nabanna sources.
Mamata directs CS to remove 'The Kerala Story' from screens running it
While directing the Chief Secretary for removing the movie from screens running it, CM Banerjee said: “This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, to maintain peace in the state..."
Speaking about the movie released last weekend, Mamata Banerjee said: "First they came with Kashmir Files, now it’s Kerala Story and then they are planning for Bengal files. Why the BJP is trying to create communal problem? Kerela Story is an attempt to defame Kerala with distorted facts."
'The Kerala Story' is a 'distorted story': Mamata Banerjee
"What is 'The Kashmir Files'? it is to humiliate one section. What is 'The Kerala Story'?... It is a distorted story," the West Bengal CM said.
Mamata Banerjee is the second non-BJP CM to have banned the movie in her state. Earlier, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had issued similar orders regarding the movie.
Mamata Banerjee made the announcement on Monday at the state secretariat. The declaration came moments after Banerjee claimed that "the BJP was financing a movie on Bengal modeled after the Kashmir Files."
Producer and director react
Addressing the latest development, the film's producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and director Sudipto Sen held a joint press conference to react over this unconstituitional move.
Shah said, "I just want to request the government to make sure that the film is released since Honorable Court has already given the order. After that, it becomes the state's responsibility to ensure a smooth and fair release of the film. Let people decide if they don't want to see it. But this is a completely unacceptable situation. Our film is made upon a very serious social issue and it can cause a political uproar. Some are caused by a planned strategy too. Everyone has the right to dissent. People have gone to the courts. We have about 15 cases filed against us. They have their democratic rights to do so. But, once our courts have ordered that the film be released, to not release it is something that the state must understand if it is in the interest of the democracy or not."
IFTDA condemns Bengal govt decision
Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA), in a statement, condemned the ban imposed on the film by West Bengal government.
"We strongly feel that its against the freedom of expression of a filmmaker. We stand by the filmmaker and his film exactly the way we stood by films like Udta Punjab and Padmaavat," the film body said.
The IFTDA also asked the state government to withdraw the ban.
"A film which has been passed by Central Board of Film Certification cannot be banned. We therefore appeal to the State Government to revert their decision of banning the film," the IFTDA said.
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