Anurag Kashyap Calls Ban On The Kerala Story Wrong, Bats For Sudhir Mishra’s Afwaah

New Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has spoken against the banning of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’. He said that banning a film is wrong “be it propaganda or counter propaganda”.

Anurag Kashyap took to Twitter to express his views and wrote, “You agree with the film or not, be it propaganda, counter propaganda, offensive or not, to ban it is just wrong.”

You agree with the film or not, be it propaganda, counter propaganda, offensive or not, to ban it is just wrong. pic.twitter.com/DxNFJC1N4w

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) May 9, 2023

He also batted for Sudhir Mishra’s ‘Afwaah’, which was released on the same day and said that the right way to fight the “propaganda” is by going to the theaters in large numbers to watch ‘Afwaah’.

You want to fight propaganda. Then go in numbers and see the film that talks against misuse of social media and how inherent prejudice is weaponised to create hatred and unrest. It’s running in cinemas and is called “Afwaah”. Go make your voice stronger. Go make a point. That’s the right way to fight,” he tweeted.

You want to fight propaganda. Then go in numbers and watch the film that talks against misuse of social media and how inherent prejudice is weaponised to create hatred and unrest. It’s running in cinemas and is called “Afwaah”. Go make your voice stronger. Go make a point. That’s…

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) May 9, 2023

He also shared a quote by the 18th Century French writer Voltaire, “I don’t agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” The Producers Guild of India (PGI) also issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the ban.

On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film to avoid “any incident of hatred and violence”. In Tamil Nadu, multiplexes canceled screenings citing law and order situation and poor audience turnout.

The Producers Guild of India issued a statement condemning the ban. “The Producers Guild of India is distressed by, and would like to record its strong objection to, state-enforced bans on ‘The Kerala Story’. As emphasized by us on several occasions in the past, film releases are regulated by CBFC and any film that complies with this statutory requirement should face no further hurdles in having the paying public decide on its fate. Of course, the audience can choose to watch or ignore any film but that is a choice that should be theirs to make, not one that is imposed on them by any party other than CBFC,” the guild said in a statement.

“The Kerala Story”, directed by Sudipto Sen, depicts how women from Kerala were forcefully converted and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film, which was released on May 5, features Adah Sharma.