The Kerala Story 2 Review: Director Kamakhya Narayan Singh Screening of controversial film The Kerala Story 2 has been canceled in many of Kerala, especially in cities such as Thrissur and Thiruvananthapurama. DYFI staged strong resistances and shows were canceled and ticket refunded by multiplexes like Fun Movies Thrissur and Cinepolis Mall of Travancore.
DYFI Thrissur District Committee Secretary K S Russal Raj led protestors against the film claiming that it propagated hate and was targeting a community of people in the name of narrating a story. Charcoal was spread all over the posters of the movie and the slogans were lifted up, as a part of the demonstration that demanded the total boycott.
Why Do People Keep Protesting The Kerala Story 2?
The timeline of The Kerala Story 2 is based on the lives of three Hindu women who are purportedly being deceived into brutal forced religious humanization by the way of trick marriages. Critics believe that the movie defines the whole community as negative and thus encouraging communal segregation and intolerance.
The activists and a number of audience feel that the story is not nuanced enough and puts forward exaggerated statements that lack enough evidence. The film has been criticised by many political and social groups as trying to sensationalise serious matters.
Film Cleared by Court, Resistance of People.
The Kerala High Court on a temporary stay on the release of the film was only removed a day ahead of the escalation of the protests. A split Bench of Justices S.A. Dharmadhikari and P.V. Balakrishnan permitted the film to be shown but directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to review the movie again. Although this was a green light of the law, theatres had to endure the pressure of people who did not like this move.
Review: The Kerala Story 2 is a Film or a Political Statement?
The Kerala Story 2 is more than two hours long, but it is not subtle and propagated rather than influenced by provocation. Although the creators state that the movie was based on real-life events, the movie is not a complicated one but rather a dramatic exaggeration.
The story is centered on three women titled Surekha Nair (Ulka Gupta), Neha Sant (Aishwarya Ojha), and Divya Sinha (Aditi Bhatia) all of whom succumb to deceit and manipulation. Their narratives are gloomy and disturbing yet in one-dimensional format.
One of the strongest moments is a tiny scene between a young girl and a thoughtless commentator that clothing is the cause of crime that gives a brief glimpse of the light. Sadly, the movie soon goes back to loud declarations and emotional manipulative narration.
The background score is very overwhelming and distracting to the plot. Acts are authentic yet greatly pre-planned with more of a shock factor rather than a balanced critique.
The Clarification by the Producer: It is not aimed at Kerala, but at criminals.
The producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah responded to the media after the decision of the court and asserted that the movie is not against any religion or the state of Kerala. He stated:
“We are not against Kerala. The movie puts emphasis on the activities of the law breakers irrespective of the location. Something bad must be addressed in case it is not in Kerala, Rajasthan, or any other place.
He also added that the censor board had recommended 15 edits all of which were passed. Nevertheless, the central message and the screenplay were not changed.
Box Office and Overseas Release Effect.
The opening day performance of the film was a huge blow considering that the film was released in the late night and its opening was accompanied by demonstrations. The Kerala Story 2 will also not be released in some countries including the UAE and Malaysia where governments have questioned the content of the movie.
Final Ruling: The Kerala Story 2 Review Synopsis.
The Kerala Story 2 is rather political thesis than cinematographic experience. It is not balanced in narration and is based on provocation, rather than a story. As the creators of the movie justify that the movie was an eye opener to crime, critics believe that the movie does not add to the problem but instead contributes to the polarization.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5)
Conclusion
It is a matter of choice which the audience will be able to answer whether The Kerala Story 2 is an awareness-raising movie or a social divide. What is still evident is that the film has taken a center stage in the current debate in India regarding film, politics and religious identity.