Shatrughan Sinha weighs in on The Kerala Story row, ban by Mamata Banerjee: ‘I support freedom of expression… but not at the cost of law and order’

Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha said that he hasn’t had the chance to watch the controversial film The Kerala Story yet, but if it poses a threat to law and order, he is willing to bend his rule about supporting freedom of speech. The Kerala Story is about the alleged radicalisation of Hindu women in the state of Kerala, by Islamic fundamentalists. The film has attracted controversy for its perceived misrepresentation of facts and inflammatory tone.

In an interview with The Times of India, Shatrughan Sinha said that he has been so busy lately that he hasn’t even had the chance to watch his daughter Sonakshi’s upcoming streaming series Dahaad, let alone The Kerala Story. He said that he has always been a firm believer in the freedom of expression, ‘but not at the cost of a state’s law and order’. He said that if a film poses such a threat, then freedom of expression should be ‘curbed’.

Also read | The Kerala Story: SC to hear plea against ban in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Bollywood speaks up against ban

The Kerala Story has sparked a political debate. While Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal government has banned the film, the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have declared the film ‘tax-free’. Describing Banerjee as a ‘far-sighted leader’, Shatrughan Sinha said that if she has felt the need to impose a ban on the film, she must have a valid reason, because she herself has championed free speech.

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Invoking the similarly controversial film The Kashmir Files, he said that films should be made about sensitive issues, but they must be ‘made senstively’. Why this film about religious conversion during election time,” he asked, “The timing is a little suspicious.”

The Kerala Story, like The Kashmir Files last year, has proven to be a box office hit despite the negative reviews and raging political controversy. After six days of release, the film has made Rs 68 crore in India.