The Kerala Story: A Controversial Film on Islamic State that Divided India

The Kerala Story is a film that claims to tell the story of women who joined IS, based on true events and years of research.

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The film has been criticized by many opposition politicians, especially from Kerala, for being propaganda and attempting to destroy religious harmony.

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The film has received support from leaders of the governing BJP, including PM Modi, who praised it at a recent rally. Some party members have also hosted screenings and distributed free tickets.

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The film has got poor reviews from many mainstream critics but has performed well at the box office, earning more than 560m rupees ($6.8m, £5.4m) in five days.

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The film faced legal challenges and mounting criticism in April as its release date approached. The Kerala high court refused to stay the release, but the film's makers agreed to remove the teaser, which gave the controversial figure of 32,000 women. Its description on YouTube was also changed to "the compilation of the true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala."

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The state government banned the film in West Bengal, citing law and order concerns. However, the Supreme Court has stayed the ban and allowed the film to be screened in the state. The film's producer Vipul Shah has urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to watch the film and decide for herself.

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