Why 'The Kerala Story' Won Two Awards At 71st National Film Awards, Explains Jury Ashutosh Gowariker

The 71st National Film Awards, held on Friday, August 1, 2025, have faced significant backlash, not only from netizens but also from political leaders, after they awarded two awards to the highly controversial film, The Kerala Story. Despite its box office success, the 2023 film by Sudipto Sen has drawn criticism from various quarters due to the portrayal of Kerala’s women being trafficked by ISIS. Now, jury chairperson and veteran filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has finally addressed the outrage, explaining why the film was chosen for national awards despite its highly controversial subject matter.

Ashutosh Gowariker reveals the reason The Kerala Story Won two national awards

During the 71st National Film Awards, The Kerala Story bagged not one, but two top honours, including Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra. Speaking to NDTV, Ashutosh Gowariker explained that it was a unanimous decision and that despite the controversy, it tackled a ‘difficult topic’ and conveyed it with a clarity that deserved recognition. The veteran actor was quoted as saying:

"One is the cinematography award. The cinematography in The Kerala Story was very stark and realistic. It didn't ever try to overpower the narrative; the images were created within the realm of things. So, we applauded that… It's a difficult topic, and to convey that with the kind of clarity that as a jury we felt the need to applaud it."

The Kerala Story receives political backlash after winning two National Awards 

The decision to grant two National Awards to The Kerala Story has not been well received and sparked a massive political backlash in Kerala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the film’s win, issuing a scathing statement opposing the recognition of a controversial film he claimed was riddled with misinformation. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Vijayan wrote:

“By honouring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala’s image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar.”

The CM also slammed the jury, alleging that The Kerala Story’s plot, which revolves around the alleged trafficking of women from Kerala by ISIS, was predominantly built on ‘lies.’ His strongly worded post reads:

“Kerala, a land that has always stood as a beacon of harmony and resistance against communal forces, has been gravely insulted by this decision. It is not just Malayalis, but everyone who believes in democracy must raise their voice in defence of truth and the constitutional values we hold dear.”

Besides Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala’s Education Minister, V Sivankutty, also echoed a similar sentiment, alleging that the jury honoured a ‘hate-filled propaganda film.’

Why The Kerala Story sparked controversy

The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen and starring Adah Sharma in the lead role, raised controversy from the day it was released in 2023. In fact, since its teaser launch, which claimed that 32,000 women were trafficked by ISIS from Kerala, the film has received flak for being factually misleading. 

After multiple legal petitions, the makers were forced to revise the trailer to state that it was a work of fiction. The film was even banned or restricted in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Despite the controversy, The Kerala Story grossed over Rs. 300 crore.

What are your thoughts on The Kerala Story receiving two national awards?

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