The Kerala Story
2023
 Cast: Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani
 Director: Sudipto Sen, Vipul Amrutlal Shah
INTRODUCTION
Welcome back, movie enthusiasts! Today, I bring you an in-depth review of the much-talked-about film, The “The Kerala Story”. Three teenage girls from various regions of Kerala are the subjects of this thought-provoking film, with Shalini’s terrible journey taking front stage. Adah Sharma assumes the spotlight and gives a courageous and moving performance. Let’s examine the specifics to determine whether this movie succeeds.
Critic’s Rating:
3.0/5
The Kerala Story
The documentary “The Kerala Story” explores the alleged radicalization and conversion of young Hindu women to Islam in Kerala, where they were then forced to join ISIS. The film makes the claim that it is based on the real-life experiences of three females from different parts of Kerala. The action takes place while Shalini (Adah Sharma) sits in a questioning room and narrates the horrible incidents that brought her to this situation.
The background of Shalini is centred on her experience as a nursing student in Kasargauda, Kerala. Shalini develops close relationships with her roommates Gitanjali (Siddhi Idnani), Nimah (Yogita Bihani), and Asifa (Sonia Balani). To Asifa’s companions’ surprise, she has a covert plan to radicalise and convert them. Asifa manipulates the girls using hallucinogenic substances with the assistance of male companions, indoctrinating them into Islam. Now pregnant, Shalini is coerced into a marriage she doesn’t want to be in and sets off on a dangerous trek to Syria via Pakistan and Afghanistan.
PERFORMANCE AND DIRECTION
Shalini, who later takes on the name Fatima, is brilliantly and profoundly portrayed by Adah Sharma. Her commitment to perfecting the Malayali accent is evident on film, giving her role more reality. Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani are among the performers who, although being newbies, have given their all to bring these stories to life.
Sudipto Sen, the director, has tackled a delicate and complicated subject matter, and his handling of the movie reflects the difficulties involved. “The Kerala Story” expertly crafts scenes that cause viewers to feel uneasy. Dealing with such delicate subjects might be challenging, but Sudipto seems to do it with ease. Prasantanu Mohaptra, the director of photography, merits appreciation for his superb capture of the sights in Afghanistan and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The background music, however, falls short of expectations, taking centre stage and distracting the audience from the story.
REVIEW
While the film features some excellent hostel sequences starring the ladies, there are also some tedious and uninteresting parts, notably when Asifa is trying to radicalise and brainwash Shalini. It is vital to provide a warning on the incredibly upsetting rape scenario at the ISIS slave camp since it may affect sensitive viewers.
“The Kerala Story” occasionally seems less like pure amusement and more like a lesson on extremism. It pushes limits to make its point, which can disturb viewers from different cultures in our nation. You’ll surely be left with a number of concerns about the status of our country after seeing this movie. This profound film has a long-lasting effect.
CAST AND CREW
| Directed by | Sudipto Sen, Vipul Amrutlal Shah (Creative Director) |
|---|---|
| Writing Credits | Suryapal Singh, Sudipto Sen, Vipul Amrutlal Shah |
| Cast (in credits order) | |
| Adah Sharma | Shalini Unnikrishnan |
| Yogita Bihani | Nimah Mathew |
| Sonia Balani | Asifa |
| Siddhi Idnani | Geethanjali Menon |
| Devadarshini Chetan | Shalini’s mother |
| Vijay Krishna | |
| Usha Subramanian Saksena | Geetanjali’s Mother |
| Saniya Mir | Misbha |
| Pranay Pachauri | |
| Bhavna Makhija | Bhagyalaxmi |
| Eleena Koul | Husna |
| Benedict Garrett | Peter Rodd |
| Chandra Shekhar Dutta | Preacher |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically | |
| Pranali Ghoghare | Shaziya |
| Pranav Misshra | |
| Produced by | |
| Ravichand Nallappa | Co-producer |
| Aashin A. Shah | Co-producer |
| Vipul Amrutlal Shah | Producer |
| Ajay Shivshankar Singh | Line Producer |
| Music by | |
| Bishakhjyoti | |
| Viresh Sreevalsa | |
| Cinematography by | |
| Prasantanu Mohapatra |
Nimah |
| Sonia Balani | Asifa |
FAQs
Q: Is “The Kerala Story” based on a true story?
A: Yes, the movie claims to be based on the true stories of three young girls from Kerala.
Q: Are there any disturbing scenes in the film?
A: Yes, there are several disturbing scenes, including a rape scene in the ISIS slave camp. Viewer discretion is advised.
Q: Does the movie strike a balance when dealing with sensitive subject matters?
A: While it can be challenging to strike a balance, the director manages to handle the sensitive subject matter with relative ease.
CONCLUSION
“The Kerala Story” bravely addresses a delicate subject and offers a compelling story. Adah Sharma’s outstanding performance, reinforced by a committed ensemble, gives the characters dimension. The way that the movie was handled by director Sudipto Sen is admirable, however the background music is subpar. All throughout, be ready for unpleasant scenes and difficult situations. You’ll start to wonder about the status of our society today after seeing this movie. The unsettling and powerful movie “The Kerala Story” is certain to leave viewers with lasting impressions.
That’s it for today’s review, folks! Stay tuned for more updates from the world of cinema.
Note: It is important to note that we do not support or encourage the illegal downloading or streaming of pirated movies (The Kerala Story). We highly recommend that you watch films through legitimate means, such as in theaters or through authorized streaming platforms. Respect the hard work and creativity of the filmmakers by supporting their work legally.
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