Controversial movie ‘The Kerala Story’: Supreme Court to hear filmmaker’s plea on May 17 against the ban of film in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu

Today, the Supreme Court of India heard the writ petition filed by the filmmakers of the controversial movie ‘The Kerala Story’ against the West Bengal Government’s decision to ban the movie. In the previous hearing, the filmmakers also alleged that the state of Tamil Nadu has also imposed a shadow ban on the movie. The bench hearing the matter consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha issued a notice to the state of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for the same. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the filmmakers stated that the Chief Minister of West Bengal made a statement on the date of movie release that the movie is against the community and its exhibition may result in law and order problems. Following this, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the West Bengal State stated that all other petitions related to the movie were moved to the High Court and urged the top Court to move the film producers to the High Court for maintaining the discipline. 

CJI said, “The film is released in the rest of the country. West Bengal is not different from other parts of the Country. If it can run on other parts of the Country, why should the State of West Bengal ban the film? If the public does not think that the film is not worth seeing, they will not see it. It is running in other parts of the country which have similar demographic profile as West Bengal. Why should you not allow a film to run?” To this, Advocate Singhvi stated that the state opposed the grant of stay as it has powers under Section 6 of the West Bengal Cinemas (regulation) Act 1954. The bench after hearing the contentions listed the matter to Wednesday (May 17, 2023).