Church screens ‘The Kerala Story’ for students, sparks controversy

Idukki: The Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church recently included the screening of the contentious film ‘The Kerala Story’ as part of its three-day vacation training class for catechism students across various churches in the diocese from April 2nd.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, ‘The Kerala Story’ is a modestly-budgeted Hindi film that narrates a fictional tale revolving around three Kerala women who become ensnared by the allure of the Islamic State (IS) group following their conversion to Islam.

Fr. Jins Karakkat, the chairman of the Idukki diocese media commission, disclosed to TNIE on Monday that the training class is an annual fixture, catering to students from classes 10 to 12 during the summer recess. The program, conducted at different churches within the diocese, provides students with a booklet that serves as the basis for the curriculum during the three-day session.

“The booklet’s theme centered on ‘Love,’ and to complement this theme, a movie touching upon similar narratives was screened during the program. This was aimed at offering students a more profound comprehension of the subject matter, followed by a request for them to pen down their reflections,” Fr. Karakkat explained.

Regarding the selection of ‘The Kerala Story,’ a movie marred by controversy, Fr. Karakkat defended the decision, asserting that it was deemed pertinent to the training class’s theme. He expressed hope that the movie would enlighten adolescents about the pitfalls of romantic entanglements. “The movie’s relevance to the subject matter justified its inclusion in the screening lineup,” he added.

Despite claims by the filmmakers of extensive research, critics have decried the film as a tool for propagating religious disharmony and Islamophobia. Both the CPM and the Congress in Kerala lodged separate complaints with the Election Commission of India against Doordarshan’s airing of the contentious movie. They argued that the film could potentially sow seeds of religious polarization and urged the electoral body to intervene and halt its broadcast.

However, countering these objections, the BJP contended that the movie’s theme reflected real-life scenarios and questioned the motives behind the Left and the Congress’ opposition.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan joined the chorus of disapproval, condemning Doordarshan’s decision to air the controversial film. He urged the national broadcaster to withdraw the screening, citing concerns that it would only serve to exacerbate communal tensions in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Vijayan cautioned against Doordarshan becoming a mouthpiece for the BJP and the RSS, emphasizing the need for responsible broadcasting.