Director Sudipto Sen has expressed immense joy and gratitude after winning the National Award for Best Direction for his controversial film, The Kerala Story. The 71st National Film Awards ceremony, held on September 23, 2025, in New Delhi, saw President Droupadi Murmu presenting the award to Sen.
Sen described the moment as "surreal" and "unexpected," stating that receiving the country's highest award was different from the film's commercial success. He initially thought his technicians, particularly the lead actress, Adah Sharma, would be recognized. Despite this, he acknowledged the honor and dedicated the award to the "girls of Kerala," hoping that his and his team's efforts would spread awareness about their suffering.
The Kerala Story, released in 2023, is a Hindi-language drama that revolves around the contentious narrative of religious conversion and terrorism in Kerala. The film depicts the alleged radicalization of young Hindu women by extremist groups, a concept that has ignited polarizing reactions in India. While the film achieved significant commercial success, it also faced criticism for factual inaccuracies and a perceived political agenda.
Sen acknowledged that the film had already received its "first big award" through its box office collections and viewership on OTT platforms. The film remained in the top 10 on OTT platforms for nearly 35 weeks out of 70, showcasing the audience's engagement. Winning the National Award, however, was a "double whammy," signifying recognition at the national level.
Despite the honor, Sen expressed some disappointment that Adah Sharma and other key team members were not also recognized. He felt Sharma deserved the Best Actress award for her performance. He also wished more recognition was given to the film's technical aspects, including the writing and make-up. Nevertheless, he lauded cinematographer Prashantanu Mahapatra, who also won a National Award for his work in the film, calling him one of the most sensible cinematographers in the country.
The director also addressed the criticism leveled against the film, including that from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stated that he was "gravely insulted" by the jury's decision. Vijayan criticized the film for misrepresenting Kerala and promoting communal discord, further claiming that it legitimizes a narrative rooted in the divisive ideology. Sen responded by stating that Vijayan is a seasoned politician and that the film's conviction has been vindicated, as not a single cut was inflicted on it.
Sudipto Sen emphasized the arduous journey of nearly 10-12 years that he and his team undertook to make The Kerala Story. He acknowledged the adverse situations they faced during the film's production. He credited producer Vipul Shah for showing faith in him and supporting the project. Shah, in turn, expressed that the National Award win was "gratifying and satisfying".
The National Award win for The Kerala Story has sparked further debate about the role of storytelling, artistic license, and ideological framing in state-sponsored recognition. The decision to honor the film, despite its polarizing reception, is likely to keep the public discourse alive, making it a unique case study of how films can transcend mere entertainment and become a focal point for broader social, political, and cultural discussions.
