Kolkata, May 08: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has announced a ban on the controversial movie ‘The Kerala Story’ in a bid to prevent incidents of hatred and violence.
The film, directed by Sudipto Sen, claims to depict the story of women from Kerala who were converted to Islam and recruited by ISIS. The movie has been the subject of fierce online debate and criticism with strong objections raised by many political leaders who have labelled it as propaganda.
The decision to ban the movie comes after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the film a clutch of blatant lies aimed at creating communal polarization and spreading hate propaganda against the state. Banerjee’s announcement is intended to maintain peace in the state and prevent any incidents of violence or hatred.
The ban on ‘The Kerala Story’ has been welcomed by many who believe that the movie is a deliberate attempt to create communal tension and disrupt social harmony. The movie has faced criticism for its depiction of Muslims as terrorists and for promoting Islamophobia.
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The decision to ban the movie has sparked a debate on freedom of expression and censorship. While some have supported the move, others have criticized it as an attack on artistic freedom and an attempt to silence dissent.
It is worth noting that the ban on ‘The Kerala Story’ is not the first instance of the West Bengal government using its powers to restrict artistic freedom. In the past, the government has banned books and films that it deemed offensive or provocative.
While the intention behind the ban on ‘The Kerala Story’ may be to maintain peace and prevent violence, it is important to ensure that artistic freedom is not curtailed in the process. Any attempt to suppress dissent or limit freedom of expression should be viewed with caution and resisted.
