When Sudipto Sen recalled the pain that inspired 'The Kerala Story'; Survivors lived without food And power
Sudipto Sen
, producer
Vipul Amrutlal Shah
, and lead actor Adah Sharma—held a press conference that offered a rare, moving insight into what inspired the making of the film.
Three survivors of religious conversion, whose stories partly shaped the film's narrative, were also present at the event. Sudipto Sen spoke with quiet intensity as he revisited the first time he met them, years ago.
'The house was some kilometres away from Ernakulam,' he began. 'There was no electricity—disconnected. They survived without food and light for days. When they went to the market to buy vegetables, people would snatch their bags.'
The imagery was stark. 'I remember, there was just a faint light coming from the gap between the doors. That moment stayed with me.'
A chilling reality that birthed a bold story
Sen met the survivors back in 2015–16, and the experience left a lasting mark. He saw firsthand how their lives had been ravaged by exploitation and fear, and how even the basic dignity of existence had been stripped away. 'You can understand how people misused their openness and left them in such a condition,' he said. Those interviews planted the seed for The
Kerala
Story—a film he believed needed to be told, no matter how difficult.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Your donations can help this little boy see again clearly
Donate For Health
Donate Now
Undo
The film, which released on May 5, 2023, was both lauded and criticised for its bold take on the theme of radicalisation and religious conversion by terror outfits. Yet for Sen, it was never just a political narrative—it was a human one.
A story of three women and one haunting truth
The Kerala Story follows the traumatic journey of three women: one who was gang-raped after resisting conversion, one who ended her life after blackmail, and one, played by
Adah Sharma
, who was trafficked to Syria and made a sex slave. Meanwhile, there are several criticisms aimed at the film for the fact that the movie spread several inaccurate facts and was purposefully aimed at tarnishing the image of Kerala - The God's Own Country. The movie was also trolled for it's misrepresentation of a Malayali women and her lifestyle, where the director was said to be lacking a basic knowledge about the same.
Kerala CM Slams Jury: National Awards for The Kerala Story Are 'Insult to Kerala'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Middle school football player goes viral after wearing a nose guard twice the size of every other player on the field
Middle school football player goes viral after wearing a nose guard twice the size of every other player on the field (Image Via Google) This viral story is about a middle school football player whose helmet nose guard is getting massive attention online. The gear has left people humored, and seems almost twice as huge as what other children on the field wear. Originally posted on social media on January 12, 2024, the picture rapidly went viral across several media. Many were surprised at the enormous size of the guard relative to others. Some even thought it was edited, but it's real. Now, people want to know why this player has gear that stands out so much. The middle school player's nose guard drew major attention The unnamed student plays for a middle school football team in the United States. During a recent game, he wore a helmet face mask also called a nose guard that appeared double the size of the others on the field. — _MLFootball (@_MLFootball) Photos from the game show the oversized gear clearly standing out against his teammates' smaller masks. The viral image, shared on January 12, 2024, quickly spread across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) ( Fans online made jokes about him being 'ready for battle' and 'protected from everything,' while others praised his confidence. Also Read: Travis Kelce's Blunt Retirement Answer At 36 Sparks Fan Reaction Parents and experts explain why kids choose unusual gear Some parents say moments like this show how kids customize their gear for comfort or a sense of safety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Option Trading: Mr. Gopal Reveals His Powerful Laxman Rekha Strategy For Free TradeWise Learn More Undo Experts note that just like teens often pose in unique ways in photos to feel confident, young athletes sometimes adjust their sports equipment for similar reasons. In this case, the large nose guard could offer extra face protection during tackles or simply make the player feel more confident on the field. One youth coach told News9Live that 'kids like adding their own style to the game—it makes them feel more in control.' Whether for safety, style, or both, the oversized gear has now made this young player an unexpected social media star. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Taylor Swift's best friend Ashley Avignone breaks silence on Travis Kelce's New Heights' tease amid controversial fallout with Blake Lively
Ashley Avignone's social media move has sparked panic among fans.(Image via Steph Chambers/Getty) Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have constantly turned heads with their public appearances but the two have not sat for an interview together yet. A few hours ago, Travis Kelce dropped a hint about the upcoming guest on his podcast, New Heights, and many fans have been guessing that it might be Taylor Swift. While Taylor Swift has not confirmed anything yet, her best friend Ashley Avignone has dropped a major hint about the future. Taylor Swift's best friend, Ashley Avignone, clears up confusion about Travis Kelce's New Heights' post As soon as Travis Kelce's podcast, New Heights, teased their fans about their upcoming guest, Taylor Swift's PR team, Taylor Nation, dropped a new post where fans were teased about a 'new era'. — kaiamal13 (@kaiamal13) This has sparked chaos among fans but it seems Taylor Swift's best friend, Ashley Avignone, has made things clear. Eagle eyed fans were quick to notice Ashley Avignone's 'like' on New Heights' post about their upcoming guest. This has convinced fans that Taylor Swift will be making an appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce's podcast on Wednesday, 13th August. A fan by the username @aubsreputation took to X and wrote, 'there no way it's not happening at this point', while another fan by the username @Dm21202451 wrote, 'There's our girl!!! 🫶🫶' Fans are panicking.(Image via X) A third fan by the username @StacieCamp43838 wrote, 'THIS REALLY HAPPENED? IS THIS HAPPENING???? My chubby little GamGam heart canNOT take this! I'm so flipping excited!!!!'Another fan by the username @taytanversion wrote, 'she said I've got you guys covered'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Best Mattresses by Consumer Reports (Here's What You May Not Want to Miss) QuestionHero Learn More Undo Taylor Swift remains best friends with Ashley Avignone amid a controversial fallout with Blake Lively Ashley Avignone has often been spotted with Taylor Swift cheering on Travis Kelce and the two have been friends for years. Ashley Avignone's social media move comes at a time when Taylor Swift's friendship with her former best friend, Blake Lively, has come to an ended. As per Radar Online, it seems Blake Lively has taken their friendship breakup pretty hard on herself. A source has revealed, "She's heartbroken about how everything has unfolded. She can't accept that their friendship has ended and is pleading for an opportunity to make things right." However, both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce remain distant from the controversy. Also Read: 'We're proud of each other': Taylor Swift shared the heartfelt reason for going public with Travis Kelce after years of keeping her relationships private Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kylie Kelce opens up about why her four daughters have never been in the crowd for Travis Kelce's games
Kylie Kelce opens up about why her four daughters have never been in the crowd for Travis Kelce's games (Image via Getty) Kylie Kelce, wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce, has revealed the very practical reason her daughters have never watched their uncle, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , play in person. Speaking to PEOPLE on August 11, 2025, Kylie Kelce explained that the Kelce kids, Wyatt, Elliotte, Bennett, and Finnley are big supporters of Uncle Trav but usually do it from home. While the family often travels to Kansas City, the girls' schedule comes first. For Kylie, being a mom to four young children means late-night football games just aren't realistic right now, no matter how much they love the sport. Kylie Kelce explains why her daughters haven't attended Travis Kelce's games Kylie Kelce told PEOPLE that her daughters Wyatt, Elliotte, Bennett, and baby Finnley, have not been able to attend any of Travis's NFL games so far. Most of the chances they had were for Monday Night Football, which usually starts around 8:00 p.m. She explained that keeping small children out that late 'is not conducive to a 5, 4, and 2-year-old.' Even last year, she recalled, there were 'two different Monday Night Football opportunities,' but she chose to keep the girls' bedtime routine. Kylie Kelce is hoping that this season they can make it to 1:00 p.m. Sunday game, which would be much easier for the family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Mixed Pink Salt With This - Now She Can't Stop Losing Weight Break The Weight Learn More Undo Also Read: Kylie Kelce Opens Up On How She Overcame Fear To Create A Podcast That Beat Joe Rogan In The Charts Kylie Kelce on cheering for Travis Kelce and new Dove project Even if they can't be in the stadium, Kylie Kelce said the whole family is always cheering for Travis Kelce, who is entering his 13th season with the Kansas City Chiefs. 'It's so fun to cheer on Trav. We know how hard he's working,' she said. Kylie Kelce is also partnering with Dove to promote confidence for young girls in sports. She will present their new short film, 'Fans of Confidence,' at the Gotham FC game in New Jersey on August 9, 2025. The film shows professional players encouraging girls in youth programs, helping them feel supported and confident to stay in sports. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
