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In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah shared his reaction to the unexpected double win for The Kerala Story.
The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Shah, bagged two National Awards.
The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, bagged two prestigious honours at the 71st National Film Awards, announced on August 1. The film won Best Director for Sen and Best Cinematography, marking a significant moment for the team behind one of the most talked-about films of 2023.
In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah shared his reaction to the unexpected double win. “There’s always a desire to get your work recognised. But it’s a very tough competition. There are so many great films,” said Shah, adding that the honours came as a pleasant surprise.
“This is the National Award and so, we can’t really say that it’s our right to win it. We just have to hope that the jury sees our work in that light. And I’m very glad that they’ve recognised the film,” he added, acknowledging the diverse and high-quality content that was in the running this year.
The Kerala Story, which stars Adah Sharma in the lead role, opened to mixed reviews, facing backlash and protests due to its polarising theme and political overtones. Still, the film resonated with a large section of the audience and emerged as one of the biggest commercial hits of the year.
Despite the controversy, Shah is grateful for the jury’s recognition. “We all spoke. We cut the cake too just now. Sudipto da came to my office and we congratulated everybody. I also spoke to Adah. We’re all really happy and grateful,” he shared.
The film, inspired by alleged real-life cases, centres on the conversion and radicalisation of Hindu women in Kerala, portraying their recruitment into ISIS. Its release was accompanied by legal challenges and calls for bans in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
However, the controversy didn’t stop its box office success. For Shah and his team, the National Awards now serve as a moment of validation amidst the storm of debate. “It’s been an emotional journey, and these wins are incredibly special,” he concluded.
Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break…Read More
Titas Chowdhury is a Principal Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringing break… Read More
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