Local theaters in Tamil Nadu have stopped the screening of the film ‘The Kerala Story’ due to poor reviews and protests against the film. Despite earning around ₹20 crore in just two days, the film failed to impress Tamil Nadu audiences, resulting in theaters deciding that it was not worth the ongoing protest
M Subramaniam, who is the president of the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association, stated that only a few multiplexes owned by pan-Indian groups like PVR screened the film. Locally-owned multiplexes had already decided against showing the film due to the absence of popular stars. The film only had two showings in Coimbatore, one on Friday and another on Saturday, and failed to do well on either day. Theatres concluded that it was not worth the risk of protests.
‘The Kerala Story’ was released in Chennai, and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) protested against it.
In contrast, some states are offering a tax-free screening of the film, and a legislator in Uttar Pradesh even organized a free screening for college-going girls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also credited the film for exposing terror conspiracies. As a result, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to give ‘The Kerala Story’ tax-free status in the state.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the state had already made a law against religious conversion and that the film creates awareness. Therefore, he believed everyone should watch the film, including parents, children, and daughters.
This development highlights the power of regional audiences in determining the success of a film and the impact that such a controversy can have on its reception. Despite the film’s success in some regions, it ultimately failed to resonate with audiences in Tamil Nadu.
