Why an Indian movie about Islamic State is generating so much controversy: The Kerala Narrative.

A controversy has erupted in India due to a new movie that alleges to narrate the experiences of Hindu and Christian women who were enticed into becoming part of the Islamic State (IS) group.

Many opposition politicians have denounced The Kerala Story - which takes place in the southern state of Kerala - with some branding it as propaganda and an effort to disrupt interfaith unity.

At a recent political gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the proposal which has also been backed by other leaders of the ruling BJP party. Free tickets were given out and screenings were organized by some members of the party.

Numerous mainstream critics gave negative reviews of the movie, criticizing its performances and lack of subtlety. One critic went as far as to suggest that the film's ideas about Islam and religious conversion resembled those of extremist WhatsApp groups.

According to analyst Taran Adarsh,

the box office performance of The Kerala Story has been remarkably impressive, considering its limited budget and absence of prominent actors. In just five days, the film has reportedly grossed over 560 million rupees ($6.8 million, £5.4 million), a noteworthy achievement for a new release. The movie has garnered comparisons to The Kashmir Files, another divisive film from Bollywood that emerged as one of the biggest hits of the previous year. Similar to The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files was produced on a modest budget, lacked star power, and received mixed reviews, although it received accolades from Prime Minister Modi and other BJP leaders.

The release of The Kerala Story, a film centered around Kashmir, has exposed the emergence of new fault lines within India. Even before its release, the movie ignited controversy. In November, several politicians from Kerala demanded a ban on the film after its teaser claimed to portray the "heart-breaking and gut-wrenching stories of 32,000 females" from the state who had joined the IS (Islamic State).

However, a comprehensive report by the fact-checking website Alt News debunked this claim, stating that there was no evidence supporting the mentioned number. According to the US State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism 2020, there were only "66 known Indian-origin fighters affiliated" with the IS as of November 2020. Additionally, in September 2021, India's National Investigation Agency announced the arrest of 168 individuals involved in 37 cases related to "terror attacks, conspiracy, and funding" inspired by the IS ideology.

Despite the controversy, the filmmakers maintained that The Kerala Story was based on true events and extensive research conducted over the years.

The film has also sparked social media campaigns - many people have been sharing examples of religious camaraderie in Kerala under hashtags such as #MyKeralaStory and #RealKeralaStory. Singer TM Krishna wrote that over the past two decades, he has performed at "innumerable temples" across the state in front of "people who belong to diverse faiths". Political cartoonist EP Unny shared a cartoon of a mosque, temple and a church standing next to each in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram, calling it "the real Kerala story". Kerala, considered one of India's most progressive states, is often praised for its religious harmony. According to the last census in 2011, 27% of Kerala's 33 million people are Muslims and 18% are Christians. Several politicians and Muslim leaders have alleged that the film is part of a larger campaign to disturb religious harmony and "insult the state". Some people have also offered monetary rewards to anyone who could provide proof of the film's claims. The state's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan also criticised the film ahead of its release, saying that it seemed to have been made "with the aim of communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda". His government, however, has not banned the film. The Kerala Story's release coincided with a heated election campaign in Karnataka, the only southern state where the BJP is in power. Mr Modi had praised the film during an election rally last week, saying that it tried to "expose the consequences of terrorism in a society". But analysts say that while such movies create plenty of noise, they are unlikely to have real-life political impact. Sandeep Shastri, political analyst and pro-vice chancellor at the Jagran Lakeside University in Bhopal, says that films such as The Kerala Story are more likely to appeal to people who already support its message.

"It does not bring more people to your side.

The release of The Kerala Story has sparked social media campaigns, with many individuals sharing instances of religious camaraderie in Kerala under hashtags like #MyKeralaStory and #RealKeralaStory.

Renowned singer TM Krishna highlighted his experiences performing at numerous temples across the state in front of people from diverse faiths over the past two decades. Political cartoonist EP Unny shared a cartoon depicting a mosque, temple, and church standing together in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, emphasizing it as "the real Kerala story."

Kerala, known as one of India's most progressive states, is often praised for its religious harmony. As per the 2011 census, Muslims constitute 27% and Christians 18% of Kerala's population of 33 million.

Several politicians and Muslim leaders have accused the film of being part of a broader campaign to disrupt religious harmony and insult the state. Some individuals have even offered monetary rewards for proof contradicting the film's claims.

The state's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, criticized the film prior to its release, stating that it appeared to be created with the intention of communal polarization and spreading hate propaganda. However, his government did not ban the film.

The release of The Kerala Story coincided with a heated election campaign in Karnataka, the only southern state where the BJP holds power. Prime Minister Modi praised the film during an election rally, stating that it aimed to "expose the consequences of terrorism in a society." Nonetheless, analysts believe that while such films generate significant buzz, they are unlikely to have a substantial political impact.

According to Sandeep Shastri, a political analyst and pro-vice chancellor at Jagran Lakeside University in Bhopal, films like The Kerala Story tend to resonate more with individuals who already support their message rather than attracting new supporters.

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