The Kerala Story
Fatima is accused of being a terrorist and is caught at the Afghan-Iran border. During her interrogation, she reveals that her real name is Shalini Unnikrishnan, a young woman from Kerala who was brainwashed into converting to Islam and becoming a terrorist.
Legal availability
Where to watch
Streaming availability can change. We only link to official platforms.
Credits and facts
Movie details
- Release date
- 05 May 2023
- Runtime
- 138 minutes
- Country
- India
- Languages
- Hindi, Tamil
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Director
- Sudipto Sen
- Writers
- Suryapal Singh, Sudipto Sen, Vipul Amrutlal Shah
- Cast
- Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, Siddhi Idnani
- Producers
- Vipul Amrutlal Shah
- Production company
- Sunshine Pictures
Spoiler-free synopsis
Fatima is accused of being a terrorist and is caught at the Afghan-Iran border. During her interrogation, she reveals that her real name is Shalini Unnikrishnan, a young woman from Kerala who was brainwashed into converting to Islam and becoming a terrorist. The film flashes back to a few months earlier. Shalini, a Hindu, lives with her mother and grandmother in Kerala and later goes to the city to study nursing. There, she meets three friends Nimah Matthew (a Christian), Gitanjali (a fellow Hindu), and Asifa (a Muslim). The four bond well, but Asifa, who is part of an Islamic Jihadi group, begins to influence the group. She frequently insists that there is only one religion and one god in the world, warning that people who don't believe in this will never attain salvation. Asifa, along with Abdul and Rameez, creates an atmosphere of fear and manipulation among the group. Over time, Shalini and Gitanjali start wearing the hijab and begin to believe in the ideology that only one god exists. Meanwhile, Nimah, sensing something is wrong, starts to distance herself from the group and eventually parts ways. Shalini becomes romantically involved with Rameez and soon finds herself pregnant. Under pressure, she is forced to convert to Islam. However, Rameez abandons her, as per the group's plan, leaving her vulnerable and alone. She is then coerced into marrying Ishaq, believing that he will provide a secure future for her and her unborn child. At the wedding ceremony, her mother desperately tries to stop her and bring her home, but a brainwashed Shalini refuses and leaves her mother in tears. What Shalini does not know is that her marriage is just another step in the plan. During her honeymoon in Sri Lanka, her phone is confiscated. Instead of flying back to India, she is flown to Pakistan, where she is then illegally trafficked across multiple borders, enduring a harrowing journey that eventually leads her to Syria. There, she is groomed to become a suicide bomber, her life completely taken over by the group's extremist agenda.
For families
Research guidance
A transparent recommendation derived from an official classification record.
Positive messages
Constructive themes or examples.Potential constructive discussion around The Kerala Story can focus on responsibility, empathy, perseverance and the consequences of decisions. Where the Drama, Romance material creates conflict, parents can discuss safer alternatives, respectful communication and how characters respond to pressure. These are editorial discussion prompts and are not claims that every theme appears explicitly in the film.
Negative behaviours
Conduct that may need context.Parents should be alert to behaviour commonly associated with Drama, Romance, including conflict, deception, fear, risky choices or emotionally intense exchanges where applicable. Because detailed scene-level evidence is not equally available for every 2023 title, this section avoids inventing specific acts that were not verified. Use an official CBFC classification when present in the database and consider previewing the film for especially sensitive children.
Topics to discuss
Conversation starters after viewing.Useful family discussion questions include: What motivates the main characters? Which decisions create avoidable problems? How could conflicts be handled more responsibly? Do the film's relationships model respect and consent? How does the story portray courage, loyalty, justice or forgiveness? For older children, compare dramatic entertainment choices with real-world consequences.
Final recommendation
Our family-viewing take
Suggested minimum age: 13+. The overall family verdict is use caution. Children below that age may need stronger parental guidance, especially if Drama, Romance includes tension, violence, fear, crime, romance or mature emotional themes. Teen suitability improves with context and discussion. Shared family viewing is recommended when parents want to address the strongest concerns.
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