“The Kerala Story,” a highly anticipated film, is poised to make its OTT release on February 16th. Originally released in theaters on May 5th last year, the movie astounded audiences with its remarkable box office performance, grossing over 300 crores worldwide despite having a budget of around 30 crores.
Fans eagerly awaited the film’s release on OTT platforms, and now the official date has been confirmed. Adah Sharma, who played a lead role in the movie, announced its OTT release on her official Instagram account. In her post, she exclaimed, “FINALLY !!!!! SURPRISE !! The most anticipated film is dropping soon on ZEE5! #TheKeralaStory premieres on 16th February, only on #ZEE5 #TheKeralaStoryOnZEE5 #VipulAmrutlalShah #SaveOurDaughters.”
What’s the storyline of ‘The Kerala Story’?
The narrative revolves around three girls—Shalini, Nimanh, and Geetanjali—who, influenced by their roommate Asifa, convert to another religion. The movie also delves into how these girls are manipulated by indoctrinated men, coerced into changing their faith under the guise of love, and subsequently persuaded to join war zones.
Shalini Unnikrishnan (portrayed by Adah Sharma) shares her harrowing journey of joining the terrorist group ISIS and being incarcerated in Afghanistan after being lured into changing her faith and adopting the name Fatima Ba.
What’s the Controversy?
The film has courted controversy since the release of its trailer. It asserts that approximately 32,000 women are missing from Kerala, a claim that has been proven false. The movie also falsely suggests that these women were coerced into conversion and radicalized to partake in terror activities abroad. Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, dismissed the movie as “fake,” while the West Bengal CM deemed it a “distorted story” and banned its screening in the state. However, the ban was lifted after the Supreme Court permitted the movie’s release. Despite the controversies, “The Kerala Story” emerged as one of the biggest hits of 2023.
When and Where to Watch ‘The Kerala Story’?
Adah Sharma disclosed that ‘The Kerala Story‘ will release on OTT on February 16th 2024 on Zee5.
About ‘The Kerala Story’
Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under the Sunshine Pictures banner, “The Kerala Story” is a Hindi-language drama featuring Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani in significant roles. With a budget of approximately 30 crores and a runtime of 138 minutes, the movie offers a compelling exploration of its central themes.
