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The Kerala Story sequel is at the center of a political firestorm in Kerala. After the release of the trailer of The Kerala Story 2, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called the sequel a hate-mongering film, accusing it of pushing a communal agenda.
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00:00Hello and welcome. You're watching Super 6 in India today with me, Sueisha Samth.
00:04Our top focus this evening, the storm over the release of Kerala's story to the Pinaray
00:10Vijayan government is calling it a propaganda. We get you an exclusive interview with the
00:14film's director and producer ahead of the release. Also, how the top court has slammed
00:20freebie politics. Yes, the Supreme Court slamming the Tamil Nadu government over pre-poll schemes
00:26and this is a question that is now being extended across party lines of how freebies are given
00:34out just ahead of the polls. That and much more. First, a quick check of the top headlines
00:39we're tracking for you this evening.
00:43Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles, who has been arrested on suspicion of
00:49misconduct in public office amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. This marks a significant legal
00:54challenge for the British royal family. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is the first senior royal
01:00in modern history to be arrested.
01:04When asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, UK Prime Minister Sir Kiar Starmer says nobody
01:10is above the law. The Prime Minister has also said that the principle is very important and
01:16has to apply in this case in the same way it would in any other case.
01:21Prime Minister Modi presents MANA Framework for AI Governance with a focus on ethics, accountability,
01:27data sovereignty, accessibility and legal validity. He has also called for creators' rights over
01:33content and has emphasised the principle of jiska data, uska adhikar at the AI Summit.
01:40Supreme Court sharply criticises state governments over pre-election freebies, questions how they
01:45will fund real development while offering free food and electricity. The remarks were triggered
01:50by Tamil Nadu government's proposal to provide free electricity to all consumers regardless of
01:55income. The court also questioned why the scheme was announced at the last minute just ahead of the
02:00polls. Cracks surfaced within the India bloc with allies openly debating leadership. Now Congress's
02:08own Karthi Chidhamram who has pitched for a rotating leadership model. This after suggestions came in
02:13for leaders like Mamata Banerjee or Stalin be considered for India bloc leadership. BJP on the
02:19other hand has called Rahul Gandhi the biggest liability. Claims India bloc is falling apart.
02:26Alliance talks picking up pace in poll-bound Tamil Nadu. Amid strain DMK-Congress ties, TVK says they
02:32are in talks with a national party and will announce their poll plans soon. There has been a big
02:38speculation about TVK joining the Congress party. Meanwhile, Congress MP Karthi Chidhamram has launched a
02:43big attack on Vijay saying no sane voter will choose him. And yes, Kerala story 2 after Kerala story 1.
02:51Like its first part, the sequel has drawn criticism from a section of the audience as well as Chief
02:56Minister Pinaray Vijayan. He has slammed the film calling it propaganda. He's claimed that the movie
03:01seeks to demonize the state's secular fabric and is an attempt to spread hatred and communal tension.
03:07It is an India Today world exclusive. French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to India Today.
03:13Here's the Rafale boost to India. He also says the Rafale jets will further strengthen India's defense capabilities.
03:20Tensions between the US and Iran are escalating with Washington reportedly saying it is prepared to launch
03:26strikes as early as the weekend. However, sources indicate that President Trump has not yet made a final decision.
03:32Meanwhile, Israel is set to be preparing for the possibility of war within days.
03:37US has deployed two aircraft carriers and 12 warships to the region amid the rising tensions.
03:43Bangladesh's new Youth and Sports Minister Aminul Haq has hinted that Dhaka is moving to repair
03:50strained cricket ties with India after a fallout over the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He said that he has
03:57held talks with India's Deputy High Commissioner and emphasised a desire to resolve differences through
04:03friendly talks.
04:11And first up, we cut across to breaking news coming in. King Charles has spoken out on Andrew's arrest.
04:16He has gone on to say, and I quote, law must take its own course. King Charles has said that
04:22full,
04:23fair and proper process that will be followed. He also added that the authorities have our support
04:29and cooperation. The former prince, who has been accused of misconduct in public office,
04:35and this is in connection with the Epstein files, that King Charles has now gone on to support the
04:40move that has been taken against Andrew. After he has been arrested, King Charles saying that the law
04:46must take its own course and like any other case, this case should be treated as fairly as the law
04:55must take its course. He said that full, fair and proper process that must be followed. King Charles
05:00also adding that the authorities have our support and cooperation and the former prince, who has been
05:06accused of misconduct in public office, must have due action taken against him as the law deeds.
05:15Pranayopadhyay will join us shortly to take us through the details
05:21of what has now been said by King Charles. Remember, this is a big statement that has come in as
05:28Andrew has been arrested and after his arrest, King Charles now adding that this case should be treated
05:36like any other. The law must take its course and it should not be different for anyone. He's gone on
05:42to reiterate and put out that message very strongly to say that full, fair and proper process must be
05:49followed. King Charles adding that the authorities fully have our support and cooperation and action must be
05:54taken as deemed fit according to the law. The former prince, I beg your pardon.
06:05All right. Pranayopadhyay, I will join us shortly to take us through the details, but the former prince
06:13who has been accused of misconduct in public office, you would remember that picture and what has come in
06:21through those redacted files of Prince Andrew's association with Epstein. And now King Charles saying
06:29that the law must take its course. Let me take this to Pranay, who's now live with us on the
06:35broadcast.
06:36Big messaging coming in from King Charles to how this case must move forward. Also reiterating for one
06:44and all that the law is the same and there should be no preferential treatment.
06:49Absolutely, Suresha. This is very much on the expected lines because we have seen the kind of statement
06:53coming from the Kensington Palace, Prince William and Princess Kate. Besides that, now King Charles
06:59have also come out with a statement clearly distancing from the conduct of Prince Andrew.
07:05And clearly that the royalty of UK was under pressure after the way the details about the Epstein file
07:13and the involvement of Prince Andrew came to surface. And after that, the royalty wanted to distance
07:18from these allegations and their involvement. But clearly, this is a big fall for Prince Andrew,
07:24the way the kind of correspondence has come to surface. And the Thames Valley Police Station has registered a case.
07:31Prince Andrew and his premises are under investigation. And this is not only about the misconduct
07:38at a public office, but this is also about the involvement of the human trafficking aspect of it.
07:45And in fact, these are the very serious allegations which has come to surface after the Department of Justice
07:50of the United States have released these documents. And, you know, a further tranche of documents
07:55are still expected because, you know, this is around 300 GB data, which was, you know, confiscated
08:03and, you know, confiscated by the U.S. police authorities while they were investigating Jeffrey Epstein.
08:10And in fact, if you see, you know, many big names came to surface and appeared in these Jeffrey Epstein
08:19files
08:19and Jeffrey Epstein documents. But so far, this is the biggest name or the biggest fall
08:24which is coming from the United Kingdom. And this may put pressure on various other names as well,
08:31those whose name appeared in these Jeffrey Epstein files.
08:34But clearly, the statement coming from the U.K. Prime Minister clearly indicating that no one is above the law.
08:41And also, a statement coming from Prince Charles clearly saying that, you know, that no one is above law
08:46and law will take its own due course. So clearly, the royalty is trying to distance themselves from here
08:53and about the personal conduct of Prince Andrew.
08:55And besides that, the U.K. police has already started their investigation in the case.
09:01All right. Pranel, trust you to keep us ahead on every development for the moment.
09:05Many thanks for getting us the latest.
09:10And moving on, a sequel, a storm and once again, Kerala at the heart of a political flashpoint.
09:16With the trailer of the Kerala Story 2 now out, fault lines have sharpened over faith, facts and freedom of
09:23expression.
09:23As the Rao moves beyond the big screen and to the heart of political discourse, take a look at this
09:29report.
09:43The Kerala Story 2 sequel is at the center of a political firestorm.
09:47The movie's trailer has dropped and the battle lines are sharply drawn.
09:59The film claims India could turn into an Islamic state in 25 years.
10:04It stitches together stories across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala,
10:09alleging coercion, conversion and relationships spiraling into faith-based conflict.
10:15It is being pitched as a Save Our Daughters campaign.
10:19But the political backlash has been swift.
10:23Kerala Chief Minister Pinaravijian has called the sequel a hate-mongering film,
10:27accusing it of pushing communal agenda.
10:31The Congress has alleged the movie spreads falsehoods to insult Kerala and divide society,
10:36even accusing the center of backing hate-driven propaganda.
10:53The B.J.P. has hit back.
10:55Kerala B.J.P. President Rajiv Chandrasekhar has termed the criticism, hypocrisy on free speech,
11:01saying if there is anything illegal, opponents should go to court.
11:07Kerala B.J.P. President Rajiv Chandrasekhar has come to court and address 1,000 Muslim youth
11:13and radicalized them, said Article 19, freedom of expression.
11:17When a movie came out which is against the B.J.P., where we did not protest, we did not
11:21say anything,
11:23he said Article 19, freedom of expression.
11:25So how is it that when somebody else makes a movie against his political thinking,
11:30it suddenly becomes a problem?
11:34Films director Kamakhya Narayan Singh said his team is prepared for a political battle.
11:40It's a fact-based film.
11:43And there is this kind of thing happening all over the country
11:47where love is used to trap the girls and to change the demography of this country.
11:55So it's important that countries should know about the fact, about the situation in the country,
12:00how the girls are being trapped.
12:02And so we have made this film.
12:07The shadow for the first film looms large.
12:10The Kerala story, directed by Sudip Tosyan, has sparked massive controversy in 2023.
12:17This is a global agenda.
12:19Our ex-chief minister has said that the Kerala will become an Islamic state in the next 20 years.
12:23We are not united, right?
12:25We are taking advantage of this thing.
12:27Now, with part two, the debate returns over free speech, faith, facts and fear.
12:32Bureau report, India Today.
12:39And joining me on the broadcast today, our Kerala Story 2's director Kamakhya and producer, Mr. Vipul Shah.
12:46Thank you so much for speaking to India today.
12:48I firstly want your response on the biggest controversy right now,
12:51Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan,
12:53who has described the film once again as a propaganda
12:55and an attempt to malign the state.
12:58How do you respond to this?
13:01Whom do you want to answer?
13:03Mr. Shah, you can go first.
13:05You start.
13:06Yeah.
13:07So, with very great respect, I want to tell the chief minister of Kerala
13:14that A, we are not maligning any state.
13:18Kerala is our God zone country, beautiful country.
13:21I love it.
13:22We all have gone multiple times to Kerala.
13:25We all know how pretty it is.
13:28But just because it is as pretty as it is,
13:30it doesn't mean that it does not have criminals.
13:33Now, let me ask another counter question to the CM with all humility at my command
13:39that after the first one, when we were accused of lying about the number of 32,000 girls,
13:45on 6th of June that year, we had put out a YouTube video explaining the number of 32,000 girls
13:53with names,
13:55the organizations which had a certain data,
13:59to a data which was already published or already was put on the floor of the house.
14:05Now, if the intention that is attributed to us that we are trying to malign the state,
14:15what about the data which was tabled in the assembly?
14:19And that was somewhere around 7,800 girls in two years.
14:24So when we put that 32,000 data, we actually expected the government to take really harsh action
14:32against all those criminals and end this nexus in Kerala completely.
14:37And to be very honest, I'm not aware what actions have been taken.
14:43We are requesting the chief minister through this video again one more time with folded hands
14:49that kindly take action against those criminals, end this crime in Kerala
14:55and make sure that you end it so well that we cannot make,
15:00even if we want to make Kerala's story three, because there is no case in Kerala after this.
15:05So if he does that, then there will be no question of maligning the state.
15:10And neither will we get any chance.
15:12I'll take this to Kamakya because Mr. Pinaray Vijayan says that
15:16this is a film that is a propaganda, it's spreading hate.
15:20And this is just an exaggeration.
15:23It's not really the state of Kerala that all of this is happening.
15:28Yes, it's not only the state of Kerala, it's happening all over India.
15:33But it's happening in Kerala also.
15:35And it's not propaganda, it's truth.
15:38So truth is sometimes hard to digest.
15:42I would request humbly the chief minister, sir, that he goes, studies the judgments,
15:49studies the case studies, looks at the FIRs.
15:52He will understand we are speaking the truth.
15:55As a filmmaker, we are responsible filmmaker.
15:57We don't propagate lies and false narrative.
16:02Everything what we have shown in the film is based on the true events.
16:06And we can request him to study the materials.
16:09I can send him all those materials.
16:10Okay, I'll come back to that.
16:11I can, I would like to just add one line over here.
16:16And you will be aware of all these cases.
16:18There was this guy called Jalaluddin, alias Jangur Baba, was caught in UP.
16:24I think a year, year and a half back.
16:28And there was an allegation, he's in jail right now.
16:31And the allegation is that he's converted more than 3,000, 4,000 girls.
16:35There is another case of Mohammed Gautam, who has been, you know, put behind bars, life imprisonment punishment given by
16:43the court for converting more than 1,000 girls.
16:46Recently, I think 15 days back, there is a gentleman by the name of Prince, who was actually posing to
16:54be a Hindu and has converted or allegedly converted more than 300 girls.
16:59You all have seen the jinn jihad, where the jinns were used to trap the girls.
17:04If thousands and thousands of girls are being trapped into this, and after that, if somebody turns around and says
17:14that this is a propaganda and this is a lie, then I don't know how to respond to something which
17:19is so evident.
17:20And just to tell you, while they're all concerned about the fact that, you know, we should not be propagating
17:29so-called lies through our film, I have never seen even one reaction on Twitter, Instagram or anywhere, when such
17:38guys are caught regularly.
17:40They're not condemned by the same people who want us to stop making this film.
17:45So it is very evident that which side they are on.
17:48I take your point because all of this has been reported.
17:51I do take your point there.
17:52But as a producer, I want to understand from you, given the sort of political reactions that are coming in
17:57once again, and you face this in 2023 as well.
18:01But are you anticipating resistance or fresh attempts to block the release of this film in certain states?
18:08Are you prepared for that possibility?
18:12It is possible that some people will be very upset with the fact that we are exposing more people and
18:18we are exposing a nexus and trying to save so many families and so many girls' lives.
18:24So when you do that, some people do get uncomfortable and they will attempt.
18:29But we have full faith in our judiciary and I think the courts will be able to deal with it
18:37if that's the matter.
18:40And the rest of it all, see, when you are making a film like Kerala Story, when you are exposing
18:45such a big nexus, somewhere down the line, somewhere in your heart, you do know that some people will get
18:55very, very upset with you and they will try and target you.
18:58And that's something I have to be ready for.
19:02Okay. Kamakhya, I want to come back to you.
19:03While I agree with you, Mr. Shah, conversion is a reality.
19:06But Kamakhya, while I was watching the trailer, it did suggest that one story that hailed from Rajasthan, one from
19:13Madhya Pradesh and one from Kerala.
19:15In that scenario, would it be fair for the title to be Kerala Story 2?
19:21It's Kerala Story 2 goes beyond.
19:24It's a spiritual sequel of Kerala Story 1.
19:27In Kerala, see, communication is a tool to sensitize people and filmmaking is one of them.
19:33In first, what we said as a narrative that there are this kind of things happening in Kerala, people accepted
19:41it, people went to the theaters, watched, and there was a talk among the society.
19:47People started saying that this is a thing which is happening only in Kerala.
19:51So, we wanted to tell everyone in this country that it's not only in Kerala, it is everywhere.
19:58In every street, in every state, in every city, there is someone who is there standing to trap your daughter,
20:07sister, mother.
20:08And we want to make everyone conscious, sensitized that this is a trap.
20:14Let's get out of this.
20:16Okay.
20:17Hence, I extend my question here to really get your side of the story, to understand the due diligence, the
20:22research that has gone into shaping the film, especially now, Kerala Story 2.
20:27And you've seen the sort of consequences that happened the first time around, despite the adulation and admiration that the
20:35film also enjoyed.
20:36This time around, what is the research that has gone into it and where is it that you're picking from?
20:44See, last three years, we have been doing the research.
20:48I have been doing documentaries on demography.
20:51And when I was doing those documentaries, I understood love trap can be a great instrument to take our girls,
21:01to use them for change of demography.
21:06And then I realized that we should do a film.
21:09And Vipul sir was writing this film with Amarna Jha.
21:12And then we started conversation and we started doing it.
21:15So, last three, four years, I've been meeting the victims, I've been meeting the parents, I've been meeting the police
21:21officials.
21:23Everyone has been telling me that, yes, there is a problem.
21:26And there is a serious problem that the gangs, the goons are planning to change the demography of this country.
21:34Mr. Shah, you know, you continue to say that this is a film to spread awareness, to let all the
21:41innocent girls know that this is a reality.
21:44But there is also the other section that says that it deepens communal divide, it's spreading hate.
21:50How do you address those concerns, given the sort of impact this can have through your storytelling?
21:57I'm surprised with that kind of an accusation because when Jangur can convert 3,000, 4,000 girls and there
22:06is no social disharmony,
22:08or Muhammad Gautam can convert 1,000 girls and there is no social disharmony.
22:13But when I make a film and we show something, some true cases in the film, then the, only then
22:20there will be a social disharmony.
22:22It's a very imbalanced approach in our life.
22:26I can understand that if the reaction on every case, when they were caught, was equally vehement and strong,
22:35then I would have understood this comment.
22:37This is purely an agenda-driven criticism of the film.
22:42There is no truth to any of the criticism.
22:45We are exposing whatever is thrown at us.
22:49And people are seeing through it, that we are telling the truth, and that is why people are connecting with
22:55the film.
22:56Obviously, our truth is making a lot of people uncomfortable.
22:59So then how do you discredit the film?
23:02By saying that, oh, look, this is going to create a disheartening.
23:05So I'm surprised that when thousands of girls' lives are destroyed,
23:11at that time the social harmony is not disturbed.
23:14And only a film will disturb it.
23:16That's not a right assumption.
23:21And on this note, I'd like to bring in my colleague, Shibimol K.G.,
23:24who has been tracking every angle of this story.
23:27Shibimol, you just heard from the filmmakers and what they said,
23:31especially of the disclaimers that were given the first time around
23:34in the first part of the claims that were made in the first film,
23:37and how they backed it by also putting out a YouTube video later.
23:41But the biggest counter that came in of how there was exaggeration
23:46on the part of their storytelling on their claims.
23:54Well, you know, even when the part one was released,
23:57there was widespread criticism against the film,
23:59especially coming in from Kerala, saying that asking, you know,
24:03with some of the politicians and some of the social commentators asking questions
24:06like as the makers even visited Kerala once to know what exactly is the situation in the States.
24:10So these were the kind of criticism that was, you know, raised against the film
24:13when the first part was released.
24:15Also, many questions were raised regarding the 32,000 women that they first mentioned,
24:20the first teaser.
24:21Later, the makers had changed the number of figures,
24:24saying that it's not 32,000, it's much less than that.
24:27There was another issue also regarding the statements of two chief ministers of Kerala
24:31being, you know, used in an edited version of those being used.
24:36So these were the criticisms, these were the issues that were raised by the chief minister of the state
24:40and also the other politicians of the state.
24:42And the film, however, was not banned in Kerala,
24:45saying that it's up to the people.
24:46If people want to watch, then there's no absolute problem in watching the film.
24:50The second part, however, raises more questions
24:54because since the last few days, if you see, ever since the second teaser has released,
24:58the social media space of Kerala has been taken over by the teaser
25:02with multiple criticism being directed against a scene in the teaser
25:06in which a woman is being force-fed beef,
25:08saying that, you know, this is what happens in Kerala and all of that.
25:11So multiple questions are now being raised.
25:14The latest that we're picking up is that a petition has been filed at the Kerala High Court
25:17by a Keralite saying that he was shocked to see the way the state was portrayed in the teaser.
25:23And in the petition, the petition has sought the Kerala High Court
25:26to, you know, stall the release of the film.
25:28Or there should be changes made to the teaser and changes made to the film.
25:32So the High Court, what we're learning right now is that the High Court
25:35has issued a notice to the censor board and the makers of the film to submit a reply.
25:39So just like how it happened in the first part, the matter has now become legal.
25:44Earlier, many, you know, state governments banned the film.
25:47In Tamil Nadu, in West Bengal, the first part was banned.
25:49There was a court, you know, battle that took place.
25:53In the second part also, we're seeing now a petition being filed at the Kerala High Court.
25:57So we'll have to wait and see how the legal, you know, turn of events is going to take place
26:01in the coming days.
26:02And the last time around the Kerala, High Court had not allowed a stay on the film.
26:05Now we wait and watch what really happens this time.
26:07Shibimol, we'll keep coming back to you for further updates for the moment.
26:09Many thanks for getting us the latest.
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