Denying the allegation that there is a “shadow ban” on The Kerala Story across Tamil Nadu, the state government has told the Supreme Court that these are just “false and sweeping allegations” with “malafide intentions” for publicity.

According to a LiveLaw report, the government filed an affidavit stating that theatre owners voluntarily stopped the film’s screening from May 7 over “the criticism received by the film, lack of well-known actors, poor performance and poor audience response”. It said the film was released in 19 multiplexes on May 5 and no order was issued to ban the screening.

The filmmakers in their plea had said that the Tamil Nadu government had issued an “alert” anticipating protests over the release of the film due to which multiplex owners had stopped screenings. The petition said the government’s alert implied that it did not support the film’s screening. 

The petition also challenged the decision of the West Bengal government to ban screening of the film in the state.

The Kerala Story has been opposed by several parties for allegedly amplifying right-wing propaganda and false narratives about Hindu women being converted and sent on terror assignments through “love jihad”. 

The film is also allegedly linked to at least two incidents of violence, in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

Newslaundry had earlier reported on how the film is receiving support from BJP leaders, similar to the controversial film the Kashmir Files.

Meanwhile, in its affidavit before the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government also said that the state exercises no control over the decisions of the multiplex owners and had in fact deployed police forces at theatres for the maintenance of law and order. “Over 965 police personnel including 25 DSPs were posted for the protection of the 21 movie theatres which had screened the film,” the affidavit said, according to the report.

But what do audiences think of the film? Watch this Newslaundry video to find out.