The Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has stirred controversy by directing Sunday class students from classes 10 to 12 to watch the contentious film, ‘The Kerala Story’. This directive has ignited a fresh wave of debate surrounding the movie, which has already garnered significant attention.
The decision comes amidst widespread protests and objections, notably from political quarters. The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] and the Congress in Kerala had vehemently opposed the airing of the Bollywood film on Doordarshan, India’s public service broadcaster. Despite their protests, the movie was aired, triggering further dissent.
In a statement to News18, the media director of the Idukki diocese defended their stance, citing the thematic relevance of the film to the curriculum focus on love marriage and deceit in romantic relationships. However, this move has drawn criticism from various quarters.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPM, actively campaigned against the movie, screening a debunking video titled ‘The Kerala Story True or Fake?’ by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. Similarly, the youth wing of the Congress expressed strong dissent and organized protest marches against Doordarshan’s decision to broadcast the controversial film.
Both the CPM and Congress lodged complaints with the Election Commission of India, alleging that the film’s content could potentially polarize society along religious lines. They urged the electoral body to intervene and halt its screening.
In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported the film, asserting its relevance to real-life situations. The Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, penned a letter to the Election Commission, urging them to direct Doordarshan to withdraw the screening of “the extremely malicious ‘The Kerala Story’ movie.”
Responding to the Idukki diocese’s directive, Congress leader V D Satheesan criticized the decision, labeling the film as a work of fiction aimed at denigrating Kerala. He emphasized the party’s stance against the movie’s portrayal of imaginary incidents and reiterated their opposition to its screening on Doordarshan.
