Watch Film First: Kerala’s story director on Pinarayi Vijayan’s National Award Criticism
Sudeepto Sen, director of ‘The Kerala Story’, slammed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s national award winning comment on the victory, in which he urged to watch the film before passing the decision.
In short
- Pinarayi Vijayan criticizes the ‘Kerala Story’ National Award win
- Director Sudipto Sen said that if Vijayan watched the film before commenting
- The film was approved by the censor board after fully verification
As Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the National Award for ‘Kerala Story’, the director of the film, Sudeepto Sen hit back and questioned whether the communist leader had seen the film before giving his views.
In a special interview with Indianody.inSen reacted to Vijayan’s criticism, referring to the Chief Minister’s support for former Kerala Chief Minister, Achuthanandan, in the past.
Sen said that he read the entire post made by Vijayan on X, in which he called ‘The Kerala Story’ a film, “clearly spreads misinformation with a clear intentions to tarnish the image of Kerala and sow the seeds of communal hatred”.
To comment on the post, Sen said that he suspected that Vijayan had also watched his film before criticizing his national award win. He urged the Chief Minister to watch the film.
“I have, I have a mixed bag response. Number one, I am sure he did not watch the film. I will request, he is a very, very senior politician and a very revered politician, so I will request him to watch the film,” he said.
Sen recalled Vijayan’s support for Achutanandan’s statement a few years ago. He said, “And if he had seen the film, he knew that 15 years ago, his senior, Comrade vs. Achuthanandan, had come for a press conference in Delhi, to say that communal outfits with PFI (India’s popular front) had converted me to Islamic State in the next 20 years.
He said, “When he held that press conference in Delhi, there was a protest in Kerala. And you know who really came in support of VS Achuthanandan sir? Mr. Pinaray Vijayan, who was his deputy in the Communist Party – I think he was the joint secretary or something. He supported the concern of Achuthanandan.”
Sen highlighted Irony of Pinarayi’s current statement And 15 years ago his actions. “What he said at that time and now what he is saying is completely opposite. Which Pinaray Vijayan sir I should trust me?”
The filmmaker called himself a person who believes in art, and is unaware of the dynamics of politics. He said, “I am not a politician. I do not understand his style of talking, his political life strategies – how it develops. I am not the right person to comment on any politician.”
Sen mentioned the film’s certification by the censor board, highlighting that proper hard work was done, while it was originally released in 2023.
“I would only say that the censor board gave a certificate to the film after two months of rigorous investigation. He examined the authenticity of every and every dialogue. I stand by every word spoken in the film. I stand by every scene shown in the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jk3vqujdgs
Sen said that he would focus on that he is receiving for the film, and for the prestigious honor. He said that for criticism like every Pinarayi Vijayan, there are hundreds of congratulatory messages that he will read first.
“Critics are beaten in the film. I love my critics. I love my people who praise the film, praise the award, congratulate me. As a human being, I am also a greedy person. I am counting congratulations. I am just reading the congratulatory message. I will read later.” I will read the critics later. “
‘The Kerala Story’ won two awards in the 71st National Film Awards – Best Direction and Best Cinematography. The film follows one The group of Kerala women who are strong In embracing Islam, sexually abuses and eventually designed to join ISIS. The initial promo claimed that thousands of Hindu women have been converted into Islam – which was challenged by various politicians.
Following a court case, the manufacturers admitted to add two disconnections, stating that the figures mentioned in the film were “inhuman and the film was a fictional depiction of events.”