Adah Sharma on ‘The Kerala Story’ ban: ‘Watch the movie and then comment’

As her film ‘The Kerala Story’ lands in controversy and is banned in several parts in the country, actress Adah Sharma, who plays a lead in the Sudipto Sen directorial, said that freedom of expression should be cherished. “It is sad that a film, which is based on a true story and is made with a lot of hard work, is getting banned. But, at the same time, I am happy that we are discussing the film and its content,” she said.

“The Kerala Story” actress Adah Sharma celebrates freedom of expression
As her film “The Kerala Story” lands in controversy and is banned in several parts in the country, actress Adah Sharma, who plays a lead in the Sudipto Sen directorial, said that freedom of expression should be celebrated.
“The Kerala Story” is a film that celebrates the freedom of expression, and I am proud to be a part of it. The controversy it has landed in is unfortunate, but I believe that the film should be allowed to be shown in all parts of the country. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, and I am glad that our film celebrates that.

She was insistent on watching the film before commenting on it.

On 8 May, the Government of West Bengal banned the movie allegedly to prevent any incident related to communal hatred and violence. The film was also stopped from screening in Tamil Nadu by the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association as “a precautionary measure.”
The decision by the Government of West Bengal to ban the movie has caused a lot of uproar among the people. While some feel that it is a necessary step to prevent any communal violence, others feel that it is an infringement on their right to freedom of speech. The Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association’s decision to stop the movie from screening has also sparked a lot of debate. Some people feel that it is a necessary step to prevent any untoward incidents, while others feel that it is an act of censorship.

The Kerala Story, a documentary on the state’s development, has been banned by the West Bengal government. The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the state government seeking the reason behind the ban. The court also asked the Tamil Nadu government to specify all the measures taken to provide security in theatres screening the film.

Adah Sharma in a conversation with IANS said: “I am not the authority but in my opinion we should celebrate freedom of expression and watch the movie and then everyone has a choice to decide if they want to comment positively or negatively about it. I believe that the movie is an honest depiction of the current situation in our country and it will definitely create a lot of discussion.”

Adah Sharma plays the role of Fathima Ba, a Malayali Hindu nursing student, who goes missing from Kerala and is recruited to the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) after being lured to convert to Islam by a group of men. Fathima Ba’s disappearance sets off a chain of events that leads to a crackdown on the ISIS in Kerala.

“We should also honour the censor board who passed the film and the supreme court. Those who want to ban the film, if they watch it they might realise the film speaks against terrorism and they might decide to increase the screenings and show the film to more young people.”

Adah has mixed feelings about the politicization of cinema. On one hand, she believes that films can be a powerful tool for social change, and on the other hand, she is concerned that politics may influence the artistic integrity of films.

“I’m grateful to live in a democratic country where I can express myself freely. Unlike the place in the film where my character was taken. It’s great to be able to live in India.”

She noted the “anti-terrorism” elements of her film.

It is a story of humanity against terrorism. It is about being cheated in love. About why you should never rape someone. So any person from any place in the world supporting this film is a great thing!

“If you don’t believe that something like this happened and forced conversations are not real, then you should Google two words: ISIS brides. You’ll get an account of girls worldwide who have gone through this. Terrorism is a global issue, and it’s not going away any time soon.”

She added: “Our film features testimonials from parents and victims, so those who say terrorism doesn’t exist can watch it and see for themselves.”

The Kerala Story is an upcoming Indian film written and directed by Sudipto Sen. The film stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani.

After the trailer of the film was released, it got into controversy because it stated that 32,000 girls from the state had gone missing and later joined the terrorist group, ISIS.