# The Kerala Story
*The Kerala Story* is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by [Vipul Amrutlal Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/vipul-amrutlal-shah), which depicts a group of young women from the southern Indian state of Kerala who are converted to Islam and recruited into the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) Released in cinemas on 5 May 2023 with [Adah Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/adah-sharma) in the lead role, it became one of the most controversial Indian films of recent years, drawing bans, court cases, and political debate alongside substantial box-office success.[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/cast/) • [3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/the-kerala-story/0-0-1z5512788?af_adset=SVOD_TheKeralaStory_SG_15022024&af_channel=SVOD-Branding&af_click_lookback=7d&af_deeplink=true&af_dp=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.zee5.com%252Fmovies%252Fdetails%252Fthe-kerala-story%252F0-0-1z5512788&af_xp=custom&campaign=SVOD-Branding-TheKeralaStory&media_source=Social-Branding&shortlink=TKeralaStory&source_caller=ui)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 5 May 2023 (India), Hindi-language drama, runtime about 2 hours 18 minutes[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/cast/) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story) |
| Director / producer | Sudipto Sen (director and co-writer); Vipul Amrutlal Shah (producer and co-writer), Sunshine Pictures[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/cast/) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story/cast-and-crew) |
| Lead cast | Adah Sharma as Shalini Unnikrishnan, who becomes Fatima Ba; Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani in supporting roles[6](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/the-kerala-story) |
| Central claim | A November 2022 teaser claimed 32,000 females from Kerala had joined IS; the fact-checking site Alt News found "no evidence" for the figure[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) |
| Box office | ₹80.5 million (₹8.05 crore) on opening day; ₹2.422 billion (₹242.20 crore) total in India, tenth among 2023's top-grossing Indian films[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/box-office/) • [8](https://rm.coe.int/focus2024/1680b5a5bf) |
| Legal history | West Bengal banned screenings on 8 May 2023; the Supreme Court stayed the ban and ordered a disclaimer that no authentic data backed the 32,000 claim[9](https://theprint.in/india/sc-stays-bengal-order-banning-the-kerala-story-asks-makers-to-declare-film-fictionalised/1581192/) |
| Awards | Best Direction (Sudipto Sen) and Best Cinematography (Prasantanu Mohapatra) at the 71st National Film Awards, announced 2025[10](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/08/02/the-kerala-story-bagged-national-honour-prithviraj-aadujeevitham-overlooked-film-awards.amp.html) |
| Streaming | Available on ZEE5 from 16 February 2024, in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/adah-sharmas-kerala-story-finally-lands-ott-release-zee5/) • [3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/the-kerala-story/0-0-1z5512788?af_adset=SVOD_TheKeralaStory_SG_15022024&af_channel=SVOD-Branding&af_click_lookback=7d&af_deeplink=true&af_dp=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.zee5.com%252Fmovies%252Fdetails%252Fthe-kerala-story%252F0-0-1z5512788&af_xp=custom&campaign=SVOD-Branding-TheKeralaStory&media_source=Social-Branding&shortlink=TKeralaStory&source_caller=ui) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and production
The film follows Shalini Unnikrishnan, a college student in Kerala whose identity, relationships, and faith dissolve after she is coaxed into changing her faith and adopting the name Fatima Ba; she joins the Islamic State and is imprisoned in Afghanistan.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story) • [3](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/the-kerala-story/0-0-1z5512788?af_adset=SVOD_TheKeralaStory_SG_15022024&af_channel=SVOD-Branding&af_click_lookback=7d&af_deeplink=true&af_dp=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.zee5.com%252Fmovies%252Fdetails%252Fthe-kerala-story%252F0-0-1z5512788&af_xp=custom&campaign=SVOD-Branding-TheKeralaStory&media_source=Social-Branding&shortlink=TKeralaStory&source_caller=ui) [Marketing](https://www.edgepedia.org/marketing) materials described it as "a compilation of the true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala," a description the filmmakers adopted after the earlier 32,000 figure drew backlash.[12](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-kerala-story/2030521969/) • [1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) The filmmakers said the film was based on years of research; critics, including reviewers at *The Hindu*, called it propaganda marked by half-truths.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/)
**Censorship history.** The Central Board of Film Certification granted the film an "A" (adults-only) certificate after ordering changes; press reports at the time said ten scenes were removed, including an interview with a former chief minister.[13](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/138409946/) The Kerala High Court observed that the certificate showed several modifications, insertions, and excisions had been carried out before certification, and rejected arguments against release days before the film opened.[14](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/May/03/hc-rejects-arguments-against-kerala-story-2571854.html)
### Streaming and sequel
After earlier reports that the film struggled to secure a streaming platform because of its subject matter, ZEE5 acquired global streaming rights and began streaming it on 16 February 2024.[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/adah-sharmas-kerala-story-finally-lands-ott-release-zee5/) A sequel, *The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond*, received a CBFC certificate covering three young women in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and [Rajasthan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan), and the [Kerala High Court](https://www.edgepedia.org/kerala-high-court) examined the censor clearance granted to it after the producers were reluctant to screen it for the court.[18](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMTEyMDEyMDI2MDAyODM%3D) • [19](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-high-court-disposes-of-plea-against-2023-movie-the-kerala-story/articleshow/123473455.cms)
## The 32,000 claim and fact-checking
The film's first controversy predates its release. A teaser screened in November 2022 claimed to tell the "heart-breaking and gut-wrenching stories of 32,000 females" from Kerala who joined IS.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) The fact-checking website Alt News concluded there was "no evidence" to back the number, and the director could not specify his sources when questioned.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) • [15](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/05/19/the-kerala-story-a-controversial-film-accused-of-fueling-hindu-nationalist-propaganda_6027209_4.html) Contextual figures reported at the time were far smaller: the U.S. State Department counted 66 known Indian-origin fighters affiliated with IS as of November 2020, India's National Investigation Agency said in September 2021 it had arrested 168 people connected to 37 IS-inspired cases, and an anonymous police official told the BBC that since 2016 no more than 10 to 15 women from Kerala had converted and left to join IS.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/)
Under Supreme Court direction, the makers were required to add a disclaimer stating there was no authentic data to back the initial claim that 32,000 women had been converted in Kerala.[9](https://theprint.in/india/sc-stays-bengal-order-banning-the-kerala-story-asks-makers-to-declare-film-fictionalised/1581192/)
## Reception and political controversy
**Critical response.** The film was widely panned by mainstream critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 14% Tomatometer from 7 reviews and a 49% audience score.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story) Shubhra Gupta of *The Indian Express* gave it one star out of five, writing that a film which does the opposite of creating space for reflection fails its subject.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story) Reviewers for Firstpost and Scroll.in were similarly negative, with Scroll's Nandini Ramnath writing that a film about the dangers of religious indoctrination devotes every scene to brainwashing its audience.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story) *Le Monde* described the film as echoing the "love jihad" theory instigated by Hindu nationalists, the conspiratorial claim that Muslim men lure Hindu women into converting to Islam.[15](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/05/19/the-kerala-story-a-controversial-film-accused-of-fueling-hindu-nationalist-propaganda_6027209_4.html) • [1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/)
**Political reactions.** Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the film at an election rally in [Karnataka](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka) for trying to "expose the consequences of terrorism in a society," and BJP-ruled states including [Uttar Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/uttar-pradesh), Madhya Pradesh, and [Uttarakhand](https://www.edgepedia.org/uttarakhand) declared it tax-free.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) • [16](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/before-the-kerala-story-2-row-how-the-kerala-story-battled-ban-and-won-two-national-awards-11135261/amp/1) Opposition-led governments moved the other way: cinema owners in Tamil Nadu halted screenings after protests and low turnout, and West Bengal's chief minister banned screenings on 8 May 2023 on grounds they could endanger peace and order, a ban the Supreme Court later stayed.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) • [9](https://theprint.in/india/sc-stays-bengal-order-banning-the-kerala-story-asks-makers-to-declare-film-fictionalised/1581192/) Some figures in the Hindi film industry, including actress Shabana Azmi and director Anurag Kashyap, spoke against the bans on free-speech grounds.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/)
The controversy had real-world consequences beyond politics. In Akola, Maharashtra, a heated social media argument over the film escalated within hours into stone-throwing and vandalism; one man, 40-year-old Vilas Gaikwad, was killed, eight others were severely injured, and authorities imposed curfews and cut internet services.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) In Kerala, where the 2011 census recorded a population of 33 million that was 27% Muslim and 18% Christian, politicians alleged the film was part of a campaign to provoke communal tensions, and counter-campaigns under hashtags such as #RealKeralaStory shared examples of religious coexistence.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) Commentators drew comparisons with *The Kashmir Files* (2022), another low-budget, star-less film that polarized audiences, drew BJP praise, and was made tax-free in BJP-ruled states.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/)
## Box office and awards
The film opened at ₹80.5 million (₹8.05 crore) in India on its first day and reached ₹354.9 million (₹35.49 crore) by the end of its opening weekend, eventually totaling ₹2.422 billion (₹242.20 crore) in India.[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/box-office/) The BBC reported earnings of more than 560 million rupees (about $6.8 million) in the first five days, which one analyst called a feat for a small film without star power.[1](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/) The Council of Europe's yearbook of world film market trends ranked it tenth among 2023's top-grossing films in India, with a gross of $32,082,605.[8](https://rm.coe.int/focus2024/1680b5a5bf) The Associated Press described it as the ninth-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2023.[17](https://apnews.com/article/2aea78fec4324d805d74ddc2bff9f633)
At the 71st [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards), announced in 2025 for films of 2023, the film won Best Direction for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra; the jury's choice drew renewed political criticism, and jury member and filmmaker Pradeep Nair said the film had been chosen for its relevance in addressing what the jury considered a major social issue in India.[10](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/08/02/the-kerala-story-bagged-national-honour-prithviraj-aadujeevitham-overlooked-film-awards.amp.html) • [16](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/before-the-kerala-story-2-row-how-the-kerala-story-battled-ban-and-won-two-national-awards-11135261/amp/1) The film was also considered in the Best Male Playback Singer and Best Lyrics categories, the latter for Rafeeq Ahammed's song "Periyone Rahmane."[10](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/08/02/the-kerala-story-bagged-national-honour-prithviraj-aadujeevitham-overlooked-film-awards.amp.html) Adah Sharma received further industry recognition, including a [Dadasaheb Phalke](https://www.edgepedia.org/dadasaheb-phalke)-style popular award listing her as Most Promising Actress and nominations for critics' choice actress honors in 2024.[12](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-kerala-story/2030521969/)
## References
1. [Why 'The Kerala Story' Movie Sparked Deadly Tension in India, Time](https://time.com/6280955/kerala-story-movie-india/)
2. [The Kerala Story Cast & Crew, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/cast/)
3. [Watch The Kerala Story Full Movie Online on ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/the-kerala-story/0-0-1z5512788?af_adset=SVOD_TheKeralaStory_SG_15022024&af_channel=SVOD-Branding&af_click_lookback=7d&af_deeplink=true&af_dp=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.zee5.com%252Fmovies%252Fdetails%252Fthe-kerala-story%252F0-0-1z5512788&af_xp=custom&campaign=SVOD-Branding-TheKeralaStory&media_source=Social-Branding&shortlink=TKeralaStory&source_caller=ui)
4. [The Kerala Story, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story)
5. [The Kerala Story: Full Cast & Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_kerala_story/cast-and-crew)
6. [The Kerala Story streaming: where to watch online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/the-kerala-story)
7. [The Kerala Story Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/the-kerala-story/box-office/)
8. [World Film Market Trends 2024, Council of Europe](https://rm.coe.int/focus2024/1680b5a5bf)
9. [SC stays Bengal order banning 'The Kerala Story', asks makers to declare film 'fictionalised', ThePrint](https://theprint.in/india/sc-stays-bengal-order-banning-the-kerala-story-asks-makers-to-declare-film-fictionalised/1581192/)
10. ['Kerala Story' wins award, Prithviraj's 'Aadujeevitham' ignored, how?, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/08/02/the-kerala-story-bagged-national-honour-prithviraj-aadujeevitham-overlooked-film-awards.amp.html)
11. [Adah Sharma's The Kerala Story finally lands OTT release on ZEE5, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/adah-sharmas-kerala-story-finally-lands-ott-release-zee5/)
12. [The Kerala Story - Where to Watch and Stream, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-kerala-story/2030521969/)
13. [C. Syam Sundar vs Union Of India on 23 August 2025, Indian Kanoon](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/138409946/)
14. [HC rejects arguments against Kerala Story, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/May/03/hc-rejects-arguments-against-kerala-story-2571854.html)
15. ['The Kerala Story': A controversial film accused of fueling Hindu nationalist propaganda, Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/05/19/the-kerala-story-a-controversial-film-accused-of-fueling-hindu-nationalist-propaganda_6027209_4.html)
16. [Before The Kerala Story 2 Row, How The Kerala Story Battled Ban And Won Two National Awards, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/before-the-kerala-story-2-row-how-the-kerala-story-battled-ban-and-won-two-national-awards-11135261/amp/1)
17. [As India's election nears, some Bollywood films promote Modi politics, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/2aea78fec4324d805d74ddc2bff9f633)
18. [CBFC Search Film: The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMTEyMDEyMDI2MDAyODM%3D)
19. [Kerala high court disposes of plea against 2023 movie 'The Kerala Story', Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-high-court-disposes-of-plea-against-2023-movie-the-kerala-story/articleshow/123473455.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 2020s › Hindi films of 2023*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license