Nawazuddin Siddiqui reacts to the ban of The Kerala Story: If a film has the power to break people and social harmony, it’s extremely wrong

Despite receiving some adverse reviews, Sudipto Sen's The Kerala Story starring Adah Sharma has become a classic smash and is now the second-highest grossing movie of the year. A few states have imposed restrictions and political backlash on The Kerala Story. Now, director Anurag Kashyap recently supported the makers and spoke out against the ban. He cryptically remarked, "You agree with the film or not, be it propaganda, counter-propaganda, offensive or not, to ban it is just wrong."

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who starred in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur, responded to the filmmaker's remark without referencing The Kerala Story. He told News18, "I agree with him. But if a film or a novel is hurting someone, then that’s wrong. We don’t make films to hurt the audience or their sentiments." 

Nawazuddin Siddiqui stated, "We make films to foster social harmony and love among people. It’s our responsibility to propagate the same." 

"But if a film has the power to break people and social harmony, it’s extremely wrong. Humein isse duniya ko jodna hai, todna nahi hai," Siddiqui further added.

The Supreme Court lifted the West Bengal ban on The Kerala Story almost a week ago. The producers and distributors said they were threatened and pressured into not screening the divisive movie, but the movie still wasn't able to secure a distribution in the state. 

Sudipto Sen's film The Kerala Story tells the story of women who were misled and converted to Islam by ISIS. Despite being condemned for its biassed narrative and called a propaganda work by various political leaders, the movie is succeeding admirably at the ticket windows. The Kerala Story was released in theatres on May 5.