The release of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ teaser’s has thrust India into another cinematic-political showdown. Tackling explosive issues like radicalization and coerced religious shifts, the movie has polarized leaders. BJP leaders hail it as a bold exposé, while Congress, SP, and others push for censorship, fearing it fans religious discord.
Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP’s sharp-tongued spokesperson, lambasted opponents for hypocrisy. He recalled how the first installment revealed love jihad’s grim underbelly, validated by judicial nods, only to be vilified. ‘Now they target a film exposing extremists’ exploitation of women and threats to security. Is truth so threatening to their vote banks allied with dubious groups?’ he challenged.
UP’s Narendra Kashyap reinforced this, viewing the film as a societal mirror. ‘Such stories combat unconstitutional forced conversions; banning them silences reality,’ he said.
Critics aren’t backing down. Tehseen Poonawala, a keen observer, linked the film’s timing to electoral cycles in opposition states. Despite opposing bans generally, he flagged the Supreme Court confession of false ISIS abduction stats, warning of divisive impacts. AP Congress’s V. Gurunadham decried it as hate-mongering between faiths, crafted for political mileage.
Karnataka Congress legislator Aradhana Mishra Mona demanded a blanket ban on religion-tinged films, arguing they fracture society. SP’s Sangram Singh mocked BJP’s communal tactics as desperate moves from a crumbling party in UP.
This clash reveals deeper fault lines in Indian democracy—where art intersects with ideology. As petitions and protests mount, the fate of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ hangs in balance, emblematic of the ongoing tug-of-war between creative freedom and communal harmony.