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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘The Kerala Story' National Award win: Director feels Adah Sharma deserved best actress, calls industry validation unimportant
'The Kerala Story' won two National Awards recently, but director feels the film deserved even more. He especially feels sad that lead actress didn't get the Best Actress award. In an interview, he shared his thoughts on the film's journey, his struggles, and how the audience's love matters more to him than industry recognition. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The film won two major awards, but Sudipto feels disappointed The film won two major awards as Best Director and Best Cinematography, but Sudipto feels disappointed that actress Adah Sharma and other key team members weren't honoured. Sudipto shared his point of view In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Sudipto shared that while winning Best Director was a pleasant surprise, he was really hoping for technical categories like writing and makeup to be acknowledged too. "It was a surprise. I expected technical awards. I wanted the work of my technicians to be recognised. When a film becomes so big that even two years after its release, it is being talked about, then it is definitely technically good. That was why I had reason to expect my technicians would get the award. My DOP did, but I would have been happy if my writer, my makeup artist, and my actress Adah Sharma had also won. But that did not happen, and I was a little sad." he said. Despite this, he's grateful for the appreciation the film has received. Coming from a humble background and working hard for over two decades, he feels proud to have finally earned such a prestigious recognition. Sudipto also spoke about not feeling accepted by mainstream Bollywood. Living in Mumbai for 25 years, he still feels like an outsider. "I have been living in Mumbai for almost 25 years, but I never felt at home with Bollywood. I don't belong to the genre of cinema that the Mumbai film industry makes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I remain an outsider here. People hardly know me here. Their validation was never a big aspect in my cinematic journey. My audience's validation was important," he explained. About the film 'The Story' follows the story of young women from Kerala who are influenced and recruited by ISIS. The film claimed to be based on true events, which sparked protests and legal issues in Kerala, including a ban. Even so, it was a hit with viewers and earned over ₹300 crore at the box office. Sudipto says the film's success and lasting impact show that it can't just be dismissed as 'propaganda.'
Hindustan Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
The Kerala Story deserved more National Awards, says director Sudipto Sen, is 'sad' Adah Sharma didn't win Best Actress
The Kerala Story was one of the big winners at the recently announced 71st National Film Awards. The film won in two categories - Best Director and Best Cinematography. But the film's director, Sudipto Sen, still feels shortchanged. In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, the filmmaker says the film deserved more awards. Adah Sharma played the lead role in Sudipto Sen's The Kerala Story. Sudipto Sen believes The Kerala Story deserved more awards When asked about his first reaction to his Best Director win, Sudipto says, "It was a surprise. I expected technical awards. I wanted the work of my technicians to be recognised. When a film becomes so big that even two years after its release, it is being talked about, then it is definitely technically good. That was why I had reason to expect my technicians would get the award. My DOP did, but I would have been happy if my writer, my makeup artist, and my actress Adah Sharma had also won. But that did not happen, and I was a little sad." However, Sudipto says he is happy about whatever has come his way through the film. "But at the end of the day, hailing from a modest background and after struggling for 20-25 years, getting the country's top award for film direction is a great honour. It was overwhelming," he adds. On what the award means The filmmaker says he does not see the award as validation, but merely recognition. "I have been living in Mumbai for almost 25 years, but I never felt at home with Bollywood. I don't belong to the genre of cinema that the Mumbai film industry makes. I remain an outsider here. People hardly know me here. Their validation was never a big aspect in my cinematic journey. My audience's validation was important," he tells us. The Kerala Story is about a group of girls from Kerala who are radicalised by ISIS militants. The makers' claim of it being based on real incidents sparked off a wave of protests in Kerala, leading to a ban on the film in the state and a legal battle. After the award, Sudipto says, "You can't discredit me by saying it's a propaganda film." That is his biggest takeaway from what he calls is the film's 'continued relevance'. The Kerala Story released to a good reception from the audiences, minting over ₹300 crore at the box office.
