In a contentious turn of events at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony held on August 4, 2025, the film “The Kerala Story” emerged as both Best Director and Best Cinematography recipient. The win has sparked a wave of debate and tensions among the jury members.
While directors Sudipto Sen and Prasantanu Mohapatra proudly accepted their awards, one member of the Feature Film jury panel, Pradeep Nair, voiced his objections to the film’s selection. According to Nair, “The Kerala Story” presents a skewed portrayal of the state and serves as propaganda against it.
Despite Nair’s vocal opposition, the rest of the Feature Film jury panel disagreed with him, leading to his concerns not being considered in the selection process for the National Film Awards. This decision has raised questions about the impartiality of the awards and the impact of individual biases within the jury.
The film “The Kerala Story,” which has been accused of defaming Kerala, continues to garner attention as it makes its way through the film festival circuit. As debates continue over its merit and controversy, audiences will be left to decide for themselves whether the film’s portrayal of the state is accurate or a misrepresentation.
