Ashutosh Gowariker reacts to The Kerala Story winning National Awards despite controversy: 'It didn't try to overpower the narrative'

Adah Sharma starrer The Kerala Story won 2 Awards at the 71st National Film Awards. Ashutosh Gowariker, who was one of the jury members of the award, reacted to the film winning the National Awards.

Ashutosh Gowariker | Adah Sharma in The Kerala Story

The 71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 were announced on August 1, 2025. From Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, to Vikrant Massey, several actors have bagged the prestigious award. Meanwhile, a bunch of films also won the National Awards, and The Kerala Story is one of them. The film won two Awards at the 71st National Film Awards - best director for Sudipto Sen and best cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra. Ashutosh Gowariker, who was one of the jury members of the award, reacted to The Kerala Story winning the National Awards despite controversy.

Ashutosh Gowariker on The Kerala Story winning the National Awards

The Feature Film Jury of the National Film Awards, led by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, announced The Kerala Story the winner of the above-mentioned categories at the 71st National Awards. For the unversed, the film faced controversy and was banned in some states and received tax-free status in others.

Reacting to The Kerala Story bagging two National Awards, Ashutosh told NDTV, "One is the cinematography award. The cinematography in The Kerala Story was very stark and realistic. It didn't ever try to overpower the narrative, the images were created within the realm of things. So, we applauded that."

Also Read: 12th Fail to The Kerala Story: Where to watch on OTT guide of 71st National Film Award winners

Why did The Kerala Story face controversy?

Soon after the release of The Kerala Story in 2023, the film welcomed a series of controversies. It sparked significant controversy as it claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala were recruited by the Islamic State (IS), a claim that was widely disputed and ultimately denied in the film itself. The movie's depiction of 'Love Jihad,' in which Muslim men target Hindu women for conversion, has further fueled the controversy, with critics accusing it of spreading misinformation and promoting Islamophobia.

The Kerala Story stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani. The story follows a group of women from Kerala who are forced to convert to Islam and join the Islamic State. Meanwhile, you can watch The Kerala Story on ZEE5 via OTTplay Premium.

Meanwhile, other films such as 12th Fail, 2018, Sam Bahadur, and many others have bagged the National Awards. You can watch these films on OTTplay Premium.

FAQs

Q: Did Shah Rukh Khan win the National Award?

A: Yes, Shah Rukh Khan bagged his maiden National Award (71st National Award) for his performance in the action blockbuster Jawan.

Q: Is The Kerala Story available on OTT?

A: The Kerala Story is streaming on ZEE5 via OTTplay Premium.

Q: Is The Kerala Story based on a real story?

A: The Kerala Story is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language drama film, claiming to be inspired by true events, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. It stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani.

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