Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 4 (UNI): Senior RSS leader and Prajna Pravah National Convener J. Nandakumar has said that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should have watched the National Award-winning film ‘The Kerala Story’ before making critical remarks about it.
He was responding to the Chief Minister’s statement that the film spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala’s image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, and that the jury of the National Film Awards has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar.
Challenging the Chief Minister or anyone else to identify any false information in the film that is not backed by facts, Nandakumar asked, “Where is the blatant misinformation in the whole film, Sir?”
Drawing the attention of the Chief Minister, his son-in-law and Minister Mohammed Riyas, and others concerned, Nandakumar said that he came across the responses reportedly attributed to them, which included references to “brazen falsehoods,” “the divisive politics of the Sangh Parivar,” and “a deliberate distortion of Kerala’s image.”
He then questioned whether such serious allegations should be made publicly without first watching the film.
He said, “If you have seen it, could you please point out two specific elements in the film that are factually incorrect? And if you haven’t, is it fair or responsible to make such sweeping statements?”
Revealing that he was involved in the research for the film, he explained that it was based on verified sources and testimonies.
“Except for the accounts given by real victims and their parents, and a statement made by former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan during a press meet at Kerala House in Delhi in 2010, only news reports that were thoroughly investigated and authenticated were used. There was no deliberate attempt to irresponsibly distort the image of the state,” he clarified.
“As someone who belongs to this state, I feel proud that a film which exposed the hardships faced by our own sisters has received a National Award. This is a victory for the entire team,” he added.
Nandakumar also referred to a past statement by the late CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan, in which he accused the Popular Front of India (PFI) and National Development Front (NDF) of attempting to Islamise Kerala and claimed they aimed to create a Muslim-majority state within 20 years.
He reiterated his point by asking, “If you still want to raise such arguments in public, shouldn’t you watch the film first? And even after watching it, if you feel nothing, then please do not blame a film that has merely portrayed real incidents truthfully.”
He also mentioned that he could share the online link to The Kerala Story that had been circulating the previous day.
Congratulating director Sudipto Sen, who received the Best Director Award, Nandakumar referred to him as “Kerala’s own Dada” and asserted that The Kerala Story was far from over.
Meanwhile, Ambika J. K., researcher of The Kerala Story and co-author of ‘The Untold Kerala Story’, also issued a challenge to the Chief Minister. She said, “We challenge you or anyone to come forward and prove if there is any false information in the film which is not backed by facts. Where is the blatant misinformation in the whole film?”
Director Sudipto Sen also commented, “Veteran Communist Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister of Kerala and a Politburo member, was the one who taught you and your ilk communism. His soul will surely rejoice that The Kerala Story has received the National Award.”
Earlier, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have clashed over the National Film Award given to the film ‘The Kerala Story,’ which claims that hundreds of women from Kerala were converted to Islam and recruited by ISIS.
The VHP said the Chief Minister should apologize to the daughters of Kerala who, according to them, are victims of “Love Jihad” propagated by ISIS.
“Instead of condemning the winners, the CM should apologize to Kerala’s daughters,” VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said.
