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Exclusive| The Kerala Story director Sudipto Sen reacts to Kamal Haasan calling it ‘propaganda’: There are very stupid…

The director of The Kerala Story, Sudipto Sen, finally opens up on actor Kamal Haasan criticising his film by calling it a propaganda.

Updated on: May 29, 2023, 08:40:01 IST
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Sudipto Sen directorial The Kerala Story has been embroiled in controversy ever since its release. From bans on its theatrical release in some states to backlash from a section of the audience, including celebs, the film, which has amassed 200 crore, has seen it all. Actor Kamal Haasan has reacted to the controversy surrounding the film, which deals with religious and ideological conversions at its core. Also read: Kamal Haasan calls The Kerala Story a propagandist film: It's not enough if you write ‘true story’

Actor Kamal Haasan has called The Kerala Story ‘propaganda film’.
Actor Kamal Haasan has called The Kerala Story ‘propaganda film’.

What Kamal Haasan said

“Propaganda films I am against,” Kamal Haasan said at a presser in Abu Dhabi, adding, “It’s not enough if you just write ‘true story’ at the bottom as a logo. It has to really be true, and that (the film) is not true.”

Sudipto Sen on Kamal Haasan's statement

Talking to HT exclusively, Sudipto Sen reacts and says, “I don’t react to (such statements) Earlier I used to try and explain, but today, I don’t do that because people who called it a propaganda film, after watching it said it was nice. Those who didn’t see it are criticising it. The same way it was not released in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. These guys didn’t see the film so they think it is propaganda. There are very stupid stereotypes in our country... life has to be black or white, they don’t know life exists in the grey.”

Quote
If BJP is liking the film, that doesn’t mean it’s their film.

Sudipto Sen on those liking the film

Currently admitted in the hospital due to dehydration and infection due to the tireless promotions for the film post it’s release, Sen adds, “If BJP is liking the film, that doesn’t mean it’s their film. Not only BJP, but Congress and any other political party... internationally in 37 countries, people are liking it. Even if they have criticism, they are calling and discussing it with me. I don’t have any regrets for that. A person is indulging in propaganda by calling it a propaganda film without watching it and making his opinion. What else would the words be than hypocrisy or petty! I have stopped explaining to them.”

  • Rishabh Suri
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Rishabh Suri

    Rishabh Suri is an Assistant Editor, film critic, and professional overthinker of plot points. He writes for HT City, keeping pace with an industry where news cycles expire long before the popcorn gets cold. He completed his graduation in English Honours from Kirori Mal College, followed by a Master’s degree in English Literature-effectively training his brain to over-analyse classic texts before applying those exact same skills to 3-hour Bollywood blockbusters. He got into the profession when he had barely graduated from college and has been at HT ever since. At HT, Rishabh reviews films with a simple rule: skip the dense academic jargon and get straight to the point. Beyond reviews, as Assistant Editor, he helps navigate the broader circus of showbiz, tracking everything from OTT shifts to sudden box office panics. In a beat driven by loud PR machinery and carefully scripted answers, Rishabh prefers cutting through the noise to focus on how stories get made and why trends shift. When he isn’t writing against a deadline, he is usually sitting in a dark theater, compulsively memorising dialogues. For Rishabh, analysing movies isn't just a day job- it’s a habit he couldn't turn off even if he tried.Read More