Not a film, but a weapon: Pune FTII students decry National Award for 'The Kerala Story'

The Students’ Association of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has strongly condemned the decision to confer the National Award for Best Director on Sudipto Sen for 'The Kerala Story', calling the film state-sponsored propaganda. The movie also won the award for Best Cinematography, credited to Prasantanu Mohapatra.

In a scathing statement, the association called the move “not simply disappointing. It is dangerous.”
Speaking to Onmanorama, General Secretary of the association Barsha Dasgupta said that the FTII body had collectively issued the statement in response to the awards announced by the National Film Development Corporation.

“The state has once again made its position clear. It will reward propaganda disguised as cinema if it aligns with its majoritarian, hate-filled agenda,” the statement read. “'The Kerala Story' is not a film. It is a weapon. A falsified narrative aimed at vilifying the Muslim community and demonising an entire state that has historically stood for communal harmony, education, and resistance.”

FTII Students’ Association President Geetanjali Sahu echoed the sentiment in an interaction with Onmanorama. “The core reason we condemned the award is because of the Islamophobia the film propagates, and the sheer hate in it. It targets a particular community,” she said. “There are several good films out there, and to award this one, which spreads hate, is unacceptable.”

Geetanjali noted that even when the film was screened on campus after its release, there was strong opposition from the student body. “The organisers weren’t allowing students in, especially those protesting the film. Here at FTII, we don’t divide people by religion. We share spaces, we work together, and we view each other as humans first. That is why a film like this does not sit right with us.”

Onmanorama had earlier reported that one member of the 11-member central jury for the feature film category opposed the selection of 'The Kerala Story'. However, the majority of the panel defended the choice, arguing that despite the controversy, the film addressed a socially relevant issue.

Geetanjali added that students from Kerala on campus were particularly hurt by how their state was portrayed. “Even among those from Kerala, no one was okay with the film. It misrepresents the people of Kerala.”

Hostel Secretary Aniket Deb added that students were especially concerned about the broader impact such a film could have. “A lot of people in India don’t necessarily verify facts in movies. When a film like this is presented as truth, it creates real-world harm. Movies are a powerful tool of mass communication, and films like this reinforce hate.”

Following the announcement of the National Award for 'The Kerala Story', Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also expressed his disapproval. He urged the film fraternity to take a stand against the misuse of cinema for communal narratives.

“The National Award for 'The Kerala Story' can only be seen as a celebration of the cultural corruption that misuses films as a means to spread communal hatred. It is unfortunate that a film that insults Kerala’s secular traditions and presents the state in a defamatory light has been feted,” he said.