The Kerala Story- Trailer Controversy: Lessons in Portraying Sensitive Subjects
Image Credit: E TIMES
The upcoming Malayalam film , ‘The Kerala Story,’ has been in the news for all the wrong reasons recently. The movie’s trailer was tweaked after controversy erupted over a scene that showed a group of men with ISIS flags. The scene was promptly removed, and the trailer was re-released. The incident has sparked a debate on the role of filmmakers in depicting sensitive subjects and the need for caution in the creative process. ‘The Kerala Story’ is a political thriller set in the backdrop of the 2016 Kerala Assembly elections. The movie follows the story of a young political worker who gets embroiled in a conspiracy to topple the state government. The film has a star-studded cast, including Fahadh Faasil, Joju George, and Dileesh Pothan. The movie’s trailer was released on 30th April and garnered a lot of attention for its slick visuals and intense storyline. However, a scene in the trailer featuring a group of men holding ISIS flags caused outrage on social media. The filmmakers were quick to respond to the controversy and released a statement saying that the scene was never intended to promote terrorism or hurt anyone’s sentiments. The scene was included to highlight the dangerous trend of communalism in Kerala politics. However, the filmmakers decided to remove the scene to avoid any misunderstanding and controversy. The incident has sparked a debate on the role of filmmakers in portraying sensitive subjects. While some argue that filmmakers should have the freedom to depict any subject, others believe that they should exercise caution while dealing with sensitive topics. In recent years, there have been several instances of movies and TV shows facing backlash for their portrayal of certain subjects. ‘The Kerala Story’ is not the first movie to face controversy for its content. However, the incident highlights the need for filmmakers to be sensitive to the sentiments of the audience and exercise caution while dealing with sensitive topics. In a world where social media can amplify even the smallest controversies, it is important for filmmakers to tread carefully while depicting sensitive subjects.
Re-reported from the story originally published in E TIMES
