Thiruvananthapuram: Media reports say that some theaters have cancelled the screening of the movie The Kerala Story. PVR Cinemas in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram cancelled the shows and refunded the money to those who had booked tickets through ‘Book My Show’. Other theaters have also cancelled the show of the movie, which is believed to be in fear of mounting protests against the movie.
Reports say that The Kerala Story had received the fifth highest advance sales of the year. Yet the theater owners are reluctant to screen the movie in Kerala.
PVR Cinemas had planned to show the movie at Oberon Mall and Lulu Mall in Kochi. They also had a plan to show it at their theater in Lulu Mall in Thiruvananthapuram.
Those who had booked for the show received a call from the officials of PVR informing of their decision to cancel the shows. The money was then refunded to the people who had booked the tickets.
Reports say that fifty theaters were ready to screen the movie and had sign contracts with the distributors. However, just before the release date, many of the theaters backed off from the contract fearing protests from communists and radical Islamists.
Most of the theaters that backed off are said to be from Kochi and Malabar regions of the state.
The Kerala Story is based on true stories of Hindu and Christian girls who were converted to Islam and later taken to ISIS camps in Syria as fighters for the terrorist organization. Since the trailer of the movie was released there have been huge protests and threats from communists and radical Islamists calling for a ban on the movie. The Congress party has also taken a stand against the movie, which they say is against a particular religion.
However, many people question the double standards of the Communist and Congress leaders calling for a ban on the movie. Many from the Christian community including the clergy have also come forward to support the movie questioning the call for a ban. They say while Communist and Congress clamor for a ban on the movie, these very leaders have remained silent when films and art works made fun of Hindu and Christian beliefs in the name of freedom of expression.
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