The Kerala Story: SC to hear plea on 12 May against ban in West Bengal, de facto ban in Tamil Nadu
2 min read . Updated: 10 May 2023, 11:36 AM IST
PremiumSenior advocate Harish Salve who appeared for the producers – Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd and Vipul Shah said that the producers are losing money every day.
The Supreme Court on 12 May will hear a petition filed by producers of The Kerala Story challenging ban imposed by West Bengal government and theatre owners in Tamil Nadu on the screening of the film.
Senior advocate Harish Salve mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha.
Salve who appeared for the producers – Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd and Vipul Shah said the petition challenges the ban by the West Bengal government and the "de-facto" ban in Tamil Nadu. He added that the producers are losing money every day
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on May 12 a plea by the producers of controversial multilingual film 'The Kerala Story' against the ban on screening of the film by the West Bengal government.
The bench said it had on Tuesday posted for May 15 a separate plea against the Kerala High Court order refusing to stay the release of the movie and the fresh plea would also be heard on that day. However, the bench agreed to list the plea for hearing on May 12 after Salve said, "We are losing money everyday."
Meanwhile, the film on conversion that has polarised political discourse, was given tax-free status in BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Politicians of various hues weighed in with their views as they have done ever since the teaser released, provoking extreme statements from both sides of the divide. The BJP has supported the movie on women being forcefully converted to Islam and recruited by the ISIS, while opposition parties have accused the filmmakers of peddling hate. PM Modi credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies and used it to attack the Congress during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka last week.
"The Kerala Story" was initially portrayed as "unearthing" the events behind "approximately 32,000 women" allegedly missing from Kerala. This was subsequently changed to three. It is produced by Shah's Sunshine Pictures.
'The Kerala Story' starring Adah Sharma was released in cinemas on May 5.
(With inputs from agencies)