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Journalism of Courage
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Student’s Association has issued a statement opposing the National Film Development Corporation’s decision to award The Kerala Story the title of Best Cinematography and Sudipto Sen the title of Best Director at the 71st National Film Awards.
Signed by President Geetanjali Sahu and General Secretary Barsha Dasgupta, the statement accuses the film of being majoritarian propaganda with a hate-filled agenda disguised as cinema. It says, “We, the student community of FTII, strongly condemn the decision…The Kerala Story is not a film-it is a weapon. A falsified narrative aimed at vilifying the Muslim community and demonizing an entire state that has historically stood for communal harmony, education, and resistance.”
The statement further adds, “Cinema is not neutral. It is a powerful instrument of influence. When a government-endorsed body elevates a film that spreads misinformation and paranoia against minorities, it is not merely “recognising art” it is legitimizing violence. It is scripting future lynchings, social exclusion, and political othering. It is telling a billion people: “This hate is acceptable. This is the story we choose to reward.””
Initially, the film’s teaser had claimed that over 32,000 women from Kerala were recruited to ISIS. However after backlash and litigation, the producer of the film later agreed to remove this figure.
In conclusion, the statement says, “We refuse to accept that our craft, the cinema we believe in and are training to make, should be reduced to a tool of state-sponsored communalism. We refuse to accept that Islamophobia is now award-worthy. And we refuse to be silent as the industry we hope to enter is being reshaped to reward lies, bigotry, and fascist ideology. The state must understand: giving awards to propaganda does not make it true. And we, as students and citizens, will not stop calling it what it is—incitement. Violence.”
