Sudipto Sen on Best Director win at National Awards: Vindication of our 10-year struggle

India Today

3 days ago

Director Sudipto Sen won Best Director for 'The Kerala Story' at the 71st National Film Awards. The film sparked nationwide debate and conversation upon its release in 2023. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Sen called the honour a validation of years of research, perseverance, and public support."Naturally, I'm feeling great,' Sen said shortly after the National Awards win. "But I would have been even happier if the film had also received the principal award. Still, it's a vindication of what we set out to communicate.'advertisementStarring Adah Sharma, 'The Kerala Story' was released in 2023 and was met with both overwhelming public support and heated controversy. Despite the polarising discourse, the film went on to become a box office hit.
Sen recalled how 'The Kerala Story' started as a modest project but received massive attention and appreciation post-release.'We already got our award in the form of audience blessings. Even two years after release, people are still talking about the film on social media. On OTT platforms, we were in the top 10 for nearly 35 weeks out of 70. That's the kind of love and engagement we witnessed," he said.The film, which focused on the alleged ISIS recruitment model in India, struck a nerve among audiences despite its modest budget and limited marketing."We didn't expect it to become so big. After a decade of research and struggle, this award feels like a reward for that journey," he added.When asked whether the National Award felt like closure following the controversies surrounding the film, Sen acknowledged the initial backlash but insisted that the narrative changed once people watched the film.'Yes, there was controversy in the beginning, but that faded as audiences realised the film wasn't about religion—it was about a very real and serious issue. ISIS's model of recruitment had impacted parts of Europe and America, and we were showing how it had roots in India too, particularly Kerala,' Sen explained.He added that 'The Kerala Story' was often mislabelled due to political sensitivities in the country, especially around the word 'Muslim'.'People assumed it was Islamophobic, but it wasn't. Once they saw it, they understood it was about terrorism—not religion. And ironically, the controversy helped us. We didn't need to spend on publicity. People organically found their personal connection to the film.'Sen began working on the project in 2012, and his collaborator from Kerala, Ambika JK, had been involved since 2010. For the director, the award isn't just recognition—it's the culmination of over a decade of hard work.When asked if he had spoken to anyone since the news broke, Sen shared that he had just spoken to actor Adah Sharma, who played the lead role.advertisement'She has been our biggest inspiration—on and off-screen,' he said.As he celebrated with friends and colleagues, Sen was clearly overwhelmed.'It's a happy moment. We're just grateful,' he signed off.The Kerala Story is currently streaming on Zee5.- EndsMust Watch