NEW DELHI: In an important development, the Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a plea by the makers of The Kerala Story against West Bengal imposing a ban on the movie. The apex court will hear the plea on May 12.
West Bengal’s Chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film in the state with the excuse of avoiding “any incident of hatred and violence”.
Incidentally, West Bengal, which recently hit the headlines when Ram Navami processions were attacked and devotees were injured, became the first state to ban the film that has become the talk of the town for touching on the contentious subject of ISIS brides from Kerala.
The film’s producer, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, said they will take legal action against the ban imposed by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud initially listed the case to be heard after May 15, the date of hearing for the Kerala high court’s refusal to stay the release of the movie on May 5. However, senior advocate Harish Salve pleaded urgency, saying that the makers are losing money every day.
Kerala high court, earlier refused to stay the release of the movie on May 5. It emphasised “artistic freedom” and the need to strike a balance.
The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani, narrates the ordeal of three women from Kerala who were converted to Islam after marriage and then trafficked to ISIS camps.
Despite all the controversies, The Kerala Story’s box office performance has left everyone surprised. By the fifth day of its release, the movie had crossed ₹50 crore mark. The movie earned ₹11 crores on Tuesday, bringing its total collection to ₹56.72 crores.