The 71st National Film Awards have ignited a major controversy, particularly in Kerala, following the recognition of Sudipto Sen's "The Kerala Story". The film, which explores alleged instances of forced religious conversion and ISIS recruitment in Kerala, has been awarded Best Cinematography and Best Director. This decision has been met with strong condemnation from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has accused the jury of "insulting" the "noble tradition of Indian cinema".

Vijayan, in a statement posted on X, asserted that the awards lent legitimacy to a narrative rooted in the "divisive ideology of the Sangh Parivar". He argued that by honoring a film that "spreads blatant misinformation" with the intent of tarnishing Kerala's image and sowing communal hatred, the jury had gravely insulted the state, which "has always stood as a beacon of harmony and resistance against communal forces". He called for strong protests against the use of art to spread a communal agenda and urged all who value democracy to defend truth and constitutional values.

Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty echoed the Chief Minister's sentiments, stating that the award "diminishes the value of the national awards". He described the film as "hate propaganda" filled with "baseless allegations" and an attempt to divide society.

"The Kerala Story," released in May 2023, faced significant criticism upon its release for its portrayal of women from Kerala being forced to convert to Islam and join the Islamic State. The film initially claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had been radicalized and sent to Syria and Yemen, a figure that was later retracted by the filmmakers following accusations of promoting hate speech. The film earned over Rs 300 crore at the box office.

Critics have pointed out that the film relies heavily on the "love jihad" narrative, a conspiracy theory propagated by right-wing groups alleging that Muslim men seduce, kidnap, or marry Hindu women to convert them to Islam. Data obtained through an RTI from the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that only 19 individuals from Kerala were arrested for ISIS-related activities between 2014 and 2020, out of 177 across India.

Despite the controversy, Ashutosh Gowariker, the chairperson of the Feature Film Jury of the National Film Awards, defended the decision to recognize "The Kerala Story". He stated that the cinematography was "stark and realistic" and that Sudipto Sen was awarded Best Director for conveying a difficult topic with clarity.

The controversy surrounding "The Kerala Story" and its National Award wins highlights the ongoing debate about freedom of expression, historical accuracy, and the potential for films to be used as tools for political propaganda. While some defend the film as a depiction of real events and a warning against religious extremism, others view it as a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and incite communal hatred.