Introduction
The film “The Kerala Story” movie directed by Sudipto Sen has been a huge box office success in India, earning over ₹136 crore nett in just 10 days since its release. The movie tells the story of three women from Kerala who were forced to convert and recruited by ISIS.
Record-breaking second weekend
The film broke records on Sunday by earning over ₹23 crore in a single day, the highest ever for a Hindi-language film. In its first week, “The Kerala Story” made ₹81.14 crore, followed by ₹55.60 crore in the second weekend.
Taking to Twitter on Monday, film trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared a poster of the film. He tweeted, “#TheKeralaStory crosses HALF-CENTURY in Weekend 2 [Fri to Sun]… Records its highest single day number on [second] Sun… Inches closer to ₹ 150 cr, speeding towards ₹ 200 cr… [Week 2] Fri 12.35 cr, Sat 19.50 cr, Sun 23.75 cr. Total: ₹ 136.74 cr. #India biz. #Boxoffice.” He also added, “#TheKeralaStory biz at a glance…* Week 1: ₹ 81.14 cr, * Weekend 2: ₹ 55.60 cr, * Total: ₹ 136.74 cr. Nett BOC. #India biz. BLOCKBUSTER.”
Controversy surrounds the movie
Despite its success, “The Kerala Story” has been surrounded by controversy. West Bengal has banned the movie, while multiplexes in Tamil Nadu have stopped screening it due to the law and order situation. However, BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have given the film a tax-free status.
Protests and a contentious figure
The movie’s trailer initially claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had joined ISIS, causing a massive controversy. The description was later changed to focus on the story of three women, and the contentious figure was removed after protests. The Supreme Court has recently sought replies from the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu governments after the producers claimed the movie was being unfairly targeted.
Conclusion
Despite controversy, “The Kerala Story” has been a blockbuster hit in India, earning huge amounts of money in just a few days. The film’s story of forced conversion and recruitment into ISIS has been polarizing, with some states banning it while others have given it tax-free status. The controversy surrounding the film continues, with the Supreme Court now involved in the matter.
