📌 Key Points
- Rahul Gandhi dismisses ‘The Kerala Story 2,’ suggesting low viewership.
- BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s wife defends film, calling it a ‘mirror to society’.
- The film is a sequel focusing on women victimized after interfaith marriages.
- Release faced legal challenges, with Kerala High Court initially issuing a stay.
Amidst divided audience reactions, ‘The Kerala Story 2’ faced criticism from Rahul Gandhi, who downplayed its popularity. Conversely, a BJP MP’s wife defended the film, sparking further debate about its portrayal of societal issues.
Rahul Gandhi’s Critique of ‘Kerala Story 2’
Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s The Kerala Story 2 was released in theatres in February and left audiences divided. Leader of the opposition and member of the Indian National Congress, Rahul Gandhi, remarked that ‘nobody is really watching’ the film. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s wife defended the film, calling it a ‘mirror to society’.
The note also claims, “Movies, TV, and the media have been weaponised. They are being used precisely to vilify people, to alienate communities, and to create divisions in society so that certain groups can benefit while others are harmed.”
BJP MP’s Wife Defends Controversial Film
“If a person wants to make a certain type of film, say something in the media, or defend particular ideas, they are attacked and often not allowed to speak. I experience this all the time,” further reads the note, adding, “On the other hand, certain narratives can be spread and propagated as much as people want, and nothing happens to them.”
She also added, “Whatever I say about the film might not do justice to it. This is not just a film, it’s a mirror to society. We all need to reflect on where we are as a society and ensure no Hindu girl goes through what the girls went through in this film.”
‘Kerala Story 2’ Release and Contentious Themes
The Kerala Story 2 is a sequel to Sudipto Sen ’s 2023 film The Kerala Story. It stars Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha as three women who become victims of an abusive plot after marrying outside their religion. The film ran into trouble after a petition was filed at the Kerala High Court seeking a stay on its release. A bench lifted a single judge’s interim stay and cleared it for release.
The controversy surrounding ‘The Kerala Story 2’ highlights the ongoing debate about freedom of expression versus potential social division, with opinions sharply divided across the political spectrum and public discourse.
