Director Sudipto Sen opens up about guerrilla-style shooting challenges in Kerala, saying, We were exposed to many difficult situations..."
's 2023 film 'The Kerala Story' has won big at the National Awards, taking home two major honors: Best Direction for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Filming challenges in Kerala and Ladakh
In an exclusive chat with IANS, Sudipto Sen opened up about the challenges he faced while shooting The Kerala Story, especially during the filming of scenes in Kerala and Ladakh.
Speaking to IANS, Sudipto Sen shared that filming the indoor scenes in Mumbai was relatively easy. However, shooting in Kerala was much more challenging. Since they didn't receive official permission to film on the roads or in the villages, the team had to shoot in a guerrilla style—working quickly and discreetly to get the scenes they needed.
"So, it was a kind of guerrilla shooting we did for seven days—it was very difficult," the director recalled.
Sen recalls tough weather conditions during the Ladakh shoot.
Sudipto Sen spoke about the challenges they faced while shooting 'The Kerala Story' in Ladakh. He revealed that they filmed in the high-altitude region of Karakoram, where temperatures would drop to -15 degrees and strong winds made the conditions even tougher.
"We were exposed to many difficult situations—particularly in Ladakh. However, we knew we had to do the best cinematography to tell the story," Sen revealed.
Controversy Surrounds 'The Kerala Story' Despite National Awards Win
Released on May 5, 2023, 'The Kerala Story' stirred major controversy for its storyline, which is believed to be inspired by the 2016 Hadiya case. The film claims that thousands of Hindu women from Kerala were converted to Islam and recruited by the Islamic State.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Legal challenges and protests across states
Soon after the trailer was released, petitions were filed in the Supreme Court calling for a ban on the film, labeling it as "audio-visual propaganda." However, the Supreme Court refused to intervene, stating that the film had already received certification for release.
The film also sparked protests in several states, including Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Many viewed its content as sensitive and polarizing.
Kerala CM slams National Award recognition
Adding to the backlash, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticized the film's National Award win. He expressed deep disappointment and said the decision felt like a personal insult, given the film's controversial portrayal of the state.
The CM tweeted, "By honoring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala's image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury of the #NationalFilmAwards has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar."
Kerala CM Slams Jury: National Awards for The Kerala Story Are 'Insult to Kerala'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Shanaya Kapoor Turns Jewellery Designer After Acting Debut? Her Latest Post Drops BIG Hint
Last Updated: Shanaya Kapoor, after debuting in Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan with Vikrant Massey, is now exploring jewellery designing. She shared sneak peeks on Instagram, hinting at a new project. After making her Bollywood debut with 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan," opposite Vikrant Massey, Shanaya Kapoor has taken on a new exciting project. She took to her official Instagram handle and dropped a sneak peek of her life lately. The various photos posted by Shanaya on social media hint that she has been spending her time indulging in jewellery designing. The post further showed Shanaya getting her makeup and hair done – hinting that she is shooting for her next project. For her downtime, she decided to enjoy some time in the pool. 'Life lately…Some calm, some chaos, and a little project that's really close to my heart!! Co-creating something I've always loved has been surreal. Can't wait to share more soon…Sneak peeks in here if you squint!," Shanaya captioned the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shanaya Kapoor (@shanayakapoor02) However, it will not be clear what Shanaya is up to until an official announcement is made. Made under the direction of Santosh Singh, 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan" reached the cinema halls on July 11. During an exclusive interaction with IANS, Shanaya revealed that her parents—Sanjay Kapoor and Maheep Kapoor—served as her most honest critics. When asked about how her parents reacted to her debut, she explained that her father has always been a very honest critic. Speaking to IANS, Shanaya revealed that during her preparation for the movie, whenever she used to share videos of her practice with her father, he used to give her honest feedback—discussing both the areas she needed to improve and the things she was already doing well. 'I mean, more than being nervous, my dad is a very honest critic of mine. Whenever I was preparing or sharing any videos with him, he would always give me very honest feedback—pointing out what I needed to work on and what my strengths were.", she shared. Shanaya added, 'Even my mom, whenever she watches any of my work, tells me, 'If this wasn't working out, I would have told you. If this wasn't good, I would have said so. And if it is good, I'll tell you that too.' They've always been very honest because they know this industry isn't forgiving, and that I have to work really hard." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Language Row: Singer Kumar Sanu Bats For Freedom Of Work Beyond Linguistic Boundaries
Mumbai: Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu has weighed in on the ongoing language debate, emphasising that talent and adaptability matter more than language proficiency when it comes to professional opportunities. Speaking exclusively to IANS, the singer shared his thoughts on the language row, saying that everyone should have the freedom to work across the country, regardless of linguistic differences. Sanu remarked that the ability to pick up a language depends on an individual's capacity and interest, and that it should not become a barrier to professional opportunities. He shared, 'I don't want to say anything about the language. The national language of our country. Everybody has the right to work in any place. Language should come or not depends on their quality…how much they grab it. It depends on how much they can speak or not. I think it's okay.' As discussions around linguistic freedom gain momentum, National Award-winning playback singer Sonu Nigam was embroiled in the center of controversy after a video from his Bengaluru concert went viral. The singer came under fire following an incident at his recent concert held at East Point College in Virgonagar, Bengaluru. The controversy erupted after he declined a fan's request to sing a Kannada song, citing the manner in which the request was made as inappropriate. What further stirred the debate was Nigam's comparison of the situation to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, a remark that drew sharp criticism. His comments sparked outrage within the Kannada-speaking community, with a pro-Kannada organization filing a formal complaint, accusing the singer of promoting linguistic discord. The incident added fuel to the ongoing national conversation around language and regional identity. In December last year, acclaimed Bengali singer Iman Chakraborty sparked an online debate after a video from her concert in Rajarhat, West Bengal, went viral. The footage showed her firmly addressing an audience member who had called for a ban on Bengali songs during the event. In April, the Maharashtra government made Hindi a compulsory third language in state-run primary schools, alongside Marathi and English—stating it aligned with the national three-language policy. The move triggered mixed reactions, particularly among those concerned about linguistic imposition. Adding to the unrest, videos of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers targeting non-Marathi speakers also surfaced on social media.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Malayalam director Jeo Baby questions National Film Award for The Kerala Story
Director Jeo Baby, who has helmed films like 'Kaathal - The Core' and 'The Great Indian Kitchen', recently reacted to the 71st National Awards winners. While mentioning 'The Kerala Story', he emphasised how National Awards have lost their value over the in a recent interview with Hindustan Times, stated that films that "back the agenda of the ruling parties", are given preference at the National Film Awards. He said, "For the past 10 years or so we have seen this pattern. Movies that seem to back the agenda of the ruling parties have won awards at the national level. These awards seem to have no significance now, as they are encouraging plots and scripts that only the people in power believe in. Why have these awards when the movies cannot be treated on merit? What's the value of these awards?"advertisementThe 'Kaathal - The Core' director also stated that 'The Kerala Story' not just misrepresented facts, but also its "script, direction and acting" were not at par with National Film Awards standards. "No. Personally, I've no such disappointment. But the awards given to 'The Kerala Story', a movie that misrepresented facts, is hugely disappointing. Not only was the movie full of lies, it was also shoddily made. The script, direction and acting were below par. Such misrepresentation of facts is quite scary," he added. Recently, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also criticised the National Award win for 'The Kerala Story'. The Kerala CM in his X post wrote, "By honouring a film that spreads blatant misinformation with the clear intent of tarnishing Kerala's image and sowing seeds of communal hatred, the jury of the #National FilmAwards has lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar (sic)."He further wrote, "Kerala, a land that has always stood as a beacon of harmony and resistance against communal forces, has been gravely insulted by this decision. It is not just Malayalis, but everyone who believes in democracy, must raise their voice in defence of truth and the constitutional values we hold dear. (sic)"The film's director, Sudipto Sen, in an interview with India Today said, "I have, I have a mixed bag reaction. Number one, I'm sure he did not see the film. I would request, he's a very, very senior politician and a very, very revered politician, so I would request him to watch the film."'The Kerala Story' won two awards at the 71st National Film Awards - Best Direction, and Best Cinematography. The film follows a group of Kerala women who are coerced into embracing Islam, sexually abused and are eventually made to join from 'The Kerala Story', there were also mixed reactions to actor Shah Rukh Khan winning Best Actor for 'Jawan'. Director Blessy also expressed disappointment over 'The Goat Life' being snubbed by the 71st National Film Awards were announced on August 1, 2025.- EndsMust Watch
