New Delhi’s political corridors are buzzing with heated debates as the teaser for ‘The Kerala Story 2’ ignites controversy. The film, delving into sensitive themes of love jihad and forced conversions, has drawn sharp lines between supporters and detractors. While the ruling BJP rallies behind it, opposition voices demand an outright ban, accusing it of stoking communal tensions.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has emerged as a vocal defender, slamming critics from Congress and left-leaning groups. ‘These are the same forces that champion free speech when it suits their narrative against BJP,’ he declared. Poonawalla highlighted how the original ‘The Kerala Story’ exposed harsh realities of love jihad, acknowledged even by courts and churches, yet faced relentless opposition. He questioned why a sequel highlighting radical forces’ threats to national security and women’s safety is being targeted, attributing it to vote-bank politics.
Uttar Pradesh minister Narendra Kashyap echoed this sentiment, stressing that films like these illuminate societal truths. ‘Forced conversions violate the nation and Constitution; opposing such truthful cinema is misguided,’ he asserted.
On the flip side, opposition heavyweights are unrelenting. Political analyst Tehseen Poonawala argued the film sows discrimination, noting its release timing aligns suspiciously with elections. Though against blanket bans, he pointed to the filmmakers’ admission before the Supreme Court of fabricating claims about 30,000 girls abducted by ISIS. Andhra Pradesh Congress leader V. Gurunadham warned it could incite violence between Hindu and Muslim communities, labeling it a tool for electoral gains rather than entertainment.
Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra Mona called for prohibiting films on sensitive religious topics, claiming they breed hatred and division. SP MLA Sangram Singh dismissed BJP’s efforts to create a communal atmosphere in UP as futile, insisting the party is internally shaken.
As the row escalates, ‘The Kerala Story 2’ underscores India’s polarized discourse on free expression, cinema, and politics. With elections looming, the battle over its release could shape narratives far beyond the silver screen, testing the limits of artistic liberty amid accusations of propaganda.