Adah Sharma's Vision for The Kerala Story: Universal Condemnation of Terrorism
In a revealing interview, actress Adah Sharma has opened up about her expectations when signing the controversial film The Kerala Story, stating she anticipated universal condemnation of terrorism rather than the divisive political reinterpretations that followed its release. The actress expressed genuine surprise at how the narrative shifted from anti-terrorism messaging to debates about community portrayal.
Initial Expectations: A Film Against Terrorism
When asked whether she foresaw the film being misinterpreted as biased toward one community or demonizing another, Sharma responded candidly: "No, to be honest, I thought that it's a film that people are going to say wow this film has spoken against terrorism." She elaborated that she believed audiences from all communities would unite in acknowledging that terrorists are bad, drawing a simple analogy: "If there's a dog being beaten up on the road, I will say that man who's beating up the dog is wrong. I will not say that man is of Gujarati origin or he's a Hindu who beat. I won't get into that only."
International Context and Comparisons
Sharma pointed to international precedents that shaped her expectations, noting that abroad, numerous shows and movies like Caliphate have addressed terrorism without sparking similar community-based controversies. "People abroad were fine with it. They praised it and they said that yeah terrorism is a real thing from Australia to Spain to Paris," she explained, referencing specific incidents like the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Australia. The actress emphasized that globally, "no one in the world supports terrorism and says it's a good thing," leading her to believe The Kerala Story would receive similar universal approval.
Women Empowerment and Political Unforeseen Consequences
Beyond the anti-terrorism theme, Sharma viewed the project as a women empowerment movie, making it doubly appealing. However, she acknowledged the unexpected political dimension that emerged post-release: "I honestly didn't see that, but I think when you release a movie and as soon as it gets banned by certain people or political parties or anyone, a sect of society, there will always be someone who stands in support." This dynamic, she noted, inevitably brought politics into the conversation despite the film's creators never intending political commentary.
Addressing the Community Portrayal Debate
Sharma directly addressed criticisms that the film demonizes one community while portraying another as victims, comparing it to her previous film 1920: "In 1920, that guy who possessed her and who slept with that other woman in the past thing, he was a Hindu soldier... that doesn't mean all Hindu men are bad soldiers." Similarly, she argued that The Kerala Story focuses on specific characters rather than making broad generalizations: "These girls were the victims in this particular story... it doesn't mean that all Catholic girls are victims and all Hindu men are bad."
International Recognition and Final Reflections
Despite the domestic controversy, Sharma highlighted positive international feedback, particularly from social workers in Paris who praised the film as eye-opening about terrorism. She concluded with reflection on the unexpected journey: "I really didn't think it's going to go this way, and I think nobody thought because our movie was a tiny movie... we got huge feedback even internationally." The actress's remarks underscore the complex intersection of cinema, social messaging, and political interpretation in contemporary Indian film discourse.
