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The Kerala Story


I wanted to watch the movie, The Kerala Story, on the day it was released. But none of the theatres near my home screened it for various reasons. Now, a day after the release, I don’t want to watch it at all. Reason: I read a dozen reviews and none has a good word to say about the movie.

Every review I’ve read so far, including Adani’s NDTV one, condemns the movie as substandard and crude. The NDTV review asserts that the makers of this movie have no idea about Kerala whatsoever. “The writing is consistently cringeworthy,” says the review. “The acting is no better.” It goes on to rubbish the movie judging it as pathetic without a single saving grace. The only purpose of the movie seems to be “to vilify a state of India on flimsy grounds.”

The Indian Express awards one star to the movie and says that even propaganda requires skills. “A poorly-made, poorly-acted rant” is what the Express calls The Kerala Story. The movie is mala fide in intention. It does not seek to interrogate the problem of Islamic terrorism and recruitment of youngsters to the ISIS. It merely throws a lot of slush on Kerala’s multi-religious, multi-ethnic identity.

It insults the people of Kerala, especially the girls, by projecting them as an utterly brainless lot who are just waiting to be carried away by silly propaganda, says the Film Companion. “If WhatsApp forwards could be a film, this would be it” – that’s the title of the review which says that Sudipto Sen’s filmmaking “teeters between ridiculous and chilling.”

The Scroll also makes a comparison with WhatsApp contents. The movie “speaks to the WhatsApp University crowd that fervently believes that Kerala is a hotbed of Islamic State recruitment.” Kerala’s girls emerge as innocent and naïve so much so they can be misled by any man bearing a Muslim name. Not just misled, they will come with you willingly and be your terrorist-fighters or sex slaves. The movie is nothing more than Muslim-bashing, says the Scroll.

My favourite newspaper is The Hindu whose review accuses the makers of this movie of “converting the audience into hatemongers.” The problem dealt with the movie, Islamic terrorism and recruitment of youngsters to ISIS, demands attention. But the treatment of the subject in this movie “gets increasingly guided more by local politics than cinematic sagacity.” All the major characters in this movie are either gullible girls eager to buy propaganda or sly creatures with Muslim names. There is not a single voice of sanity.

The Hindu points out that the treatment of certain issues requires subtlety. But the director of this movie is hammering down his message too violently and vociferously.

So, now you know why I won’t waste time watching this movie. And I understand why the theatres near my home didn’t care to screen this. There are certain things that we should keep far away from us as their proximity will contaminate us immensely. The Kerala Story is one such thing.

PS. There was one review which awarded half a star to the movie. But I can’t recall which.

Comments

  1. Pradeep NairMay 6, 2023 at 1:01 PM

    I don't like propaganda of any sort, be in the form of movies or articles or books. I have a feeling that they are one-sided, and there could be a lot of exaggeration. I try not watch such movies, unless I watch it, not to enjoy it, but to know what it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 6, 2023 at 3:52 PM

      Art is never propaganda. Art makes us look deep into reality and understand it in our own way sincerely. That's where this movie is a total failure.

      Delete
  2. Yamini MacLeanMay 6, 2023 at 4:39 PM

    Hari OM
    Love your response to Pradeep's comment - the perfect summary of your post! What a shame the filmaker has gone for 'flash and trash' rather than grasping the opportunity to raise proper insight and debate. YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 6, 2023 at 5:03 PM

      Most movie houses in Kerala have refused to screen this movie. Thank heavens, there's good sense in this state.

      Delete
  3. MurthyMay 6, 2023 at 6:14 PM

    Even for evil propaganda some skill is needed. Correct 😊

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 6, 2023 at 7:09 PM

      They should take some lessons from Goebbels 😊

      Delete
  4. magiceyeMay 6, 2023 at 8:02 PM

    Par for the course our country seems to be on.

    ReplyDelete
  5. peppylady (Dora)May 7, 2023 at 7:09 AM

    I like to choose my own books and films. Sure that way I seen some five stars, But yet I see some less than one stars.
    Coffee is on, and stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ArtiMay 8, 2023 at 12:13 PM

    I had no clue that such a movie had been released till today. Serendipitously, I read this post by Manu Pillai on Insta--https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr93BatPPMQ/ earlier today and then your post.
    So glad to read that theatres near you declined to show the movie.

    On the topic of art and after reading your response to Pradeep, I must share my recent movie watching disappointment! I went to sleep in the theatre while watching PS2!! My husband had to shake me awake. We left soon afterwards. I'm still unclear about why a Mani Ratnam film would disappoint me -- and how it's managing to do do so well on the box office! But then, it's the norm these days. Art or commerce? I wonder what will win in the end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 8, 2023 at 2:39 PM

      Commerce is ok, it's about popular entertainment. But political propaganda with malicious motives is terrifying.

      I didn't watch PS, either part. I don't find such movies appealing too.

      Delete
  7. CareenaMay 8, 2023 at 9:46 PM

    Times Of India published a review with 3 stars, but even they cautioned about its intent towards the end, and in today's TOI edition Manu S Pillai wrote a column about the real Kerela Story which is its enduring multicultural legacy. Im hopeful because it shows that not all sense is lost in our country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 11, 2023 at 8:01 PM

      Many states have refused to screen it altogether. Good sense is not so rare.

      Delete
  8. HaddockMay 8, 2023 at 10:30 PM

    I am sure the vast majority in this country will read in between the lines...... like Careena says, all sense is not lost in our country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 11, 2023 at 8:02 PM

      Vast majority? I doubt. There are a lot of sensible people, no doubt.

      Delete
  9. Rajeev MoothedathMay 14, 2023 at 7:05 PM

    As believed by many in Kerala. the real "Kerala story" is not the Bollywood movie with the title given by Sen but the Malayalam movie "2018" which tells the story of mutual love & collaboration- of how the people of the state together battled and won over the floods in the state.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 14, 2023 at 9:07 PM

      That's a great observation, Rajeev. That love and collaboration should be understood and promoted. 👍

      Delete
  10. rifle range boyMay 26, 2023 at 2:52 PM

    Saw the movie. The students in the movie appear so gullible and spineless. not an earth shattering production but the narrative is same like Netflix's "Caliphate" where gullible girls are hoodwinked into ASIS.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalMay 26, 2023 at 3:03 PM

      It's all propaganda and hence the brainlessness is expected. Their only purpose is to hoodwink as many people as possible.

      Delete
  11. morphacademyJune 10, 2024 at 10:51 AM

    Film Making Course in Chandigarh, Film Direction Courses is a combination of the various techniques learn with Morph Academy. Call 9501489999

    ReplyDelete

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