In the times when most Bollywood movies have failed to create any magic at the box office, an unconventional movie – The Kerala Story – has left everyone stunned with its collections. The movie, which has no big names to boast of, managed to create a record that left many superstar-loaded movies behind.
For the unversed, The Kerala Story has been surrounded by controversies since the day of its trailer release. The movie, directed by Vipul Shah, received mixed reactions, with some calling it “Goosebumps-worthy” and others labeling it a “propaganda-driven fake narrative,” leaving the audience divided.
Despite the mixed reviews, criticism, and bans, The Kerala Story has managed to draw in the crowds, earning a whopping Rs. 112.99 cr in just nine days. Yes, that’s right! According to multiple sources, the film has officially entered the coveted Rs. 100 cr club, joining the likes of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, and the Ranbir-Shraddha starrer Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar.
What’s more, The Kerala Story achieved this feat in just nine days, beating out other Rs. 100 cr club movies by a day or two. Sources reveal that The Kerala Story, which crossed the Rs. 100 cr mark in 9 days, surpassed the 10-day and 11-day benchmarks set by Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and the Ranbir Kapoor-Shraddha Kapoor starrer Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, respectively. Can you believe that?
The Kerala Story has become the second-fastest Rs. 100 crores grosser of 2023, with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan holding the top spot by earning 100 crores in just two opening days.
Not only is it the second-fastest Rs. 100 crores grosser, but The Kerala Story has also already surpassed the lifetime earnings of many superstar-loaded movies. It has outperformed Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa, Akshay Kumar’s Selfiee, Kartik Aaryan’s Shehzada, and many more. Considering the movie faces little to no competition, it is highly likely to see further growth in its second week.
For the unversed, the movie follows the journey of Adah Sharma, who plays a Hindu woman from Kerala abducted and brainwashed into converting to Islam and joining the ISIS Terrorist Organization in Syria. The director, Sudipto Sen, and producer, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, claim that the film is based on true events. However, controversy has been brewing since the trailer’s release, with some labeling it as propaganda and calling for a ban.
Many states, including West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, have banned the movie from screening in theaters, citing propaganda. In response to the criticism, The Kerala Story’s producer and creative director, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, recently stated that the film “is not against Muslims or Islam,” but rather against terrorists.
In an interview with Rediff, Vipul stressed that The Kerala Story, “is not against Muslims or Islam, it’s against terrorists.” He also added, “This film is not against a particular religion or caste. What has been most satisfying is that some people were posting angry, nasty, and abusive messages against the film. Three of them have publicly apologized on the same platform after seeing the film, calling it a fantastic film. That’s a very big vindication or validation of what we have been saying. I’m sure, with time, as temperatures go down, people will understand that this film is not against anyone, it’s against terrorism. And we are appealing to all those who are against terrorism, to join us in our fight.”
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