MUMBAI: 'The Kerala Story' director Sudeepto Sen again made a controversial remark against Kerala. Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Sudeepto Sen said there are two types of Kerala. Two Keralas exist inside Kerala - one which is like a picture, postcard, backwaters, beautiful landscape, Kalaripayattu, dance, martial arts. The other Kerala - the northern part of Kerala - Malappuram, Kasaragod, Kozhikode which connects to south Karnataka including Mangaluru, is a terror-network hub, Sudeepto said. The film's producer Vipul Amritlal Shah also disclosed that the film's production team had met thousands of women victims.

#WATCH | Mumbai | At a press conference with the cast & crew of #TheKeralaStory and some of the real-life victims, the film's director Sudipto Sen says, "...Two Keralas exist inside Kerala - one which is like a picture, postcard, backwaters, beautiful landscape, Kalaripayattu,… pic.twitter.com/KWAIC6rorz

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2023

There was a big controversy when it was said in the teaser of 'The Kerala Story' that 32,000 women were converted and joined ISIS. It was argued in the film that women were recruited for terrorist activities and prostitution. There was a widespread protest against the film in the state through various organizations. The film was shelved after its release in Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had taken a stand that the film will not be screened in West Bengal.