A political controversy has erupted in Kerala over Doordarshan's decision to broadcast 'The Kerala Story', a movie criticized for its allegedly Islamophobic content. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested Doordarshan to cancel the screening, stating 'DD can't become a puppet of Sangh Parivar', while Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition and Congress leader VD Satheesan has written to the Election Commission of India, arguing that the film is based on 'extremely false premises' and promotes divisiveness. Union Minister V Muraleedharan defended the film's airing, highlighting its approval by the censor board and asserting it as a form of artistic expression. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the film's portrayal as 'really shameful', emphasizing Kerala's identity as a state of 'social harmony'. The controversy has sparked a broader debate on freedom of expression and the role of state-owned media, with both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) lodging complaints with the poll body over the broadcast.
Watch #TheSouthernView with TM Veeraraghav (@TMVRaghav) | The Battle Over The Kerala Story On DD @umasudhir reports https://t.co/luQk4QIYIJ
The Left and Congress see red over The Kerala Story once again. But why the hypocrisy and paranoia surrounding it? Tune in to watch the debate live with Arnab and fire in your views - https://t.co/e5McPpWO0s #Kerala #TheKeralaStory #Doordarshan https://t.co/5podVKx1o0
Citing Left Democratic Front's (#LDF) previous assertions declaring its support for freedom of expression, Union minister #VMuraleedharan questioned #Kerala's ruling alliance over its opposition to Doordarshan's (#DD) decision to air “#TheKeralaStory” Read more… https://t.co/mBQ2PjCIns
LDF, UDF complain to poll body over broadcast of 'The Kerala Story' @PratibaRaman reports https://t.co/0g4hBlmvyi
#KeralaStory Telecast Row: BJP's Counter Exposes Congress, Left? Watch Why Filmy Drama Blew Up Again | #TNDIGITALVIDEOS https://t.co/KhvBkZst34
Opposition fumes over #TheKeralaStory DD airing: Fair to block a film? Take a look at this report @ShivaniGupta_5 | #PlainSpeak #KeralaStory https://t.co/3cGCZ391Nl
#KeralaStory | Opposition fumes over DD airing: Fair to block a film? Watch #PlainSpeak with @ShivaniGupta_5 at 6:27 PM only on CNN-News18 https://t.co/aTPMVBAgtf
Screening of #TheKeralaStory on #Doordarshan aims at divisiveness, #UDF to approach #ElectionCommission: #Congress leader V D Satheesan https://t.co/ycLXoYfX96
#WATCH | On Doordarshan to broadcast the movie - 'Kerala Story', Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "To be honest, it's really shameful. When the Kerala Story came out, everyone pointed out that this was not the real Kerala story. Kerala is a state of social harmony and… https://t.co/p6hmbhXYH6
A political row has broken out in #Kerala over Doordarshan’s contentious decision to beam the allegedly Islamophobic movie #TheKeralaStory, G Anand reports. https://t.co/wYn3tmO4HU
‘But you said…’: Union minister reacts as Left opposes #DD's decision to air #TheKeralaStory https://t.co/2dkNVO9g0m https://t.co/wxjv3Mm1qB
#BreakingNews | Kerala Assembly LoP and Congress leader VD Satheesan writes a letter to the EC, on Doordarshan screening 'The #KeralaStory' movie @Neethureghu shares more details with @akankshaswarups https://t.co/ris1SfxQoB
#WATCH | "Kerala Story is a film that was given permission by the censor board and it is a piece of art and artistic expression is there in the movie," says Union Minister @MOS_MEA on #Doordarshan to broadcast the movie - #TheKeralaStory (📹ANI) https://t.co/XNKJolF8no
'DD can't become a puppet of Sangh Parivar': CM Vijayan opposes the 'Kerala Story' screening on DD | @KGShibimol brings us more details #IndiasAgenda #KeralaStory | @snehamordani https://t.co/HwOyAHfrmu
Kerala Assembly LoP and Congress leader VD Satheesan writes a letter to the Election Commission of India, on Doordarshan screening 'The Kerala Story' movie. The letter reads "...As you are aware, Kerala Story is a propaganda film based on extremely false premises and attempts… https://t.co/WPCSEPl5EH
CM #PinarayiVijayan asks Doordarshan to withdraw screening of ‘#TheKeralaStory’ https://t.co/t8kaEVGlRl https://t.co/aiPlSkGxDx