‘The Kerala Story’ row could set tone for looming poll battles

You won’t be able to watch ‘The Kerala Story’ in West Bengal as it has been banned across the state in a bid to maintain “peace and harmony”. In Tamil Nadu, the film has been taken out of almost all theatres as “a precautionary measure”.
However, in MP, UP, Assam and Uttarakhand, you can watch the film at a discount with the BJP governments in these states making it tax-free.
Such widespread polarisation on films, rarely seen before, is set to dominate the political discourse in the year that will witness assembly polls in five states followed by the general elections next year.

Since the controversy erupted, BJP has been vocal about the issues depicted in the film. PM Modi made it a major poll issue in Karnataka, claiming that the film has exposed the consequences of terrorism in society, especially in a state like Kerala.
His reference to the film at a rally in Ballari set the tone for other party functionaries with many of them highlighting the “menace” in Kerala.

The movie caused a vertical split in the political space after some opposition-ruled states banned it, citing potential law and order problems.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the movie will be tax-free in the state, days after similar announcement by the Madhya Pradesh government.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, “The Kerala Story” depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the Islamic State (IS).

BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya said Mamata’s decision to ban The Kerala Story in West Bengal raises serious questions on civil liberties and freedom of expression. "The movie is a real account of victims, who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as cannon fodder for ISIS, one of the most barbaric force in the world," he said.
Party functionaries are to watch the movie in theatres to promote the movie. Union minister Smriti Irani watched the movie at a theatre in the national capital, a day after her ministerial colleague Anurag Thakur organised a special screening for journalists.