Kerala CM calls The Kerala Story 2 propaganda, urges rejection
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has described the upcoming release of The Kerala Story 2 as a threat to the state’s tradition of secularism. In a statement he said that this film spreads division and weakens communal harmony.
trailer of kerala story 2 Controversy erupted soon after its release, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calling the film a threat to the state’s secular values. On Wednesday, Vijayan issued a statement warning that the Sudipto Sen-directed film could undermine Kerala’s tradition of religious harmony, which he said was fundamental to the state’s identity.
Vijayan, referring to the previous installment of the film, said that its aim was “to spread hatred against the state and weaken its secular tradition. This country realized that the first part, which was full of lies, hatred and anti-Kerala propaganda, was made with communal motives.” The second part, which is said to depict incidents of forced religious conversion, has faced allegations from several quarters of promoting propaganda.
In his statement shared on Facebook, the Chief Minister questioned why public screening of “venomous acts aimed at spreading division and hatred in the society” were allowed, especially when such films beef (Spanish film) has been banned from festivals just because of its title.
Criticizing the portrayal of inter-religious relationships in the film, the Chief Minister further wrote, “They are spreading false propaganda by portraying even consensual marriages as examples of communalism and forced religious conversion.”
Vijayan also warned about outside influences trying to disrupt Kerala’s established peace, saying, “Such forces’ are hostile to Kerala, a state where there are no communal riots and a tradition of mutual respect among communities. Terming them ‘enemies of the state’, he said they are attempting to destroy the peace and tranquility of the region through such films.”
Urging citizens to remain vigilant, he stressed, “We must collectively reject attempts to portray Kerala, the land of religious harmony, which is at the forefront of sustainable development and a model in maintaining law and order, as a hub of terrorism. It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that the secular foundation of Kerala is not weakened by false propaganda and reject it while upholding the values of secularism and brotherhood.”
story of keralaThe first film in the series, was directed by Sudipto Sen and starred Adah Sharma, Sonia Balani, Yogita Bihani and Siddhi Idnani. Despite the ban and controversy, it achieved critical success at the box office and won National Film Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography.
kerala story 2 It is scheduled to release on 27th February.
