India, Aug. 3 -- At the 71st National Film Awards, the controversial Hindi film, The Kerala Story, surprised one and all with two major wins - for Best Director and Best Cinematography. The film, which dealt with the subject of radicalisation and religious conversion by terror organisations, had faced opposition by the Kerala government upon its release in 2023. After the win, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan once again criticised it, calling the honour 'an insult to the tradition of Indian cinema'.

In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, The Kerala Story director Sudipto Sen addressed the attack, and also shared a message for Chief Minister.

Taking to Twitter (now X) on Friday, CM Pinarayi Vijayan wrote, "By honouring a film that spreads ...