The Kerala Story box office: Earns Rs 8.03 cr on day 1, top five openers of 2023
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Mumbai: The controversial film 'The Kerala Story' grossed Rs 8.03 cr on Friday, its opening day. The film has received backlash for factual inaccuracies and false propaganda since the trailer was released. While critics gave it poor reviews, it has certainly made the audience curious.
The Sudipto Sen directorial has become the top five openers of 2023 so far. On the list are Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan (Rs 55 cr), Salman Khan's Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (Rs 15.81 cr), Ranbir Kapoor's Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (Rs 15.7 cr), and Ajay Devgan's Bholaa (Rs 11.2 cr). It has also gotten a better opening than Akshay Kumar’s Selfiee (Rs 2.55 cr), Kartik Aaryan’s Shehzada (Rs 6 cr), and The Kashmir Files (Rs 3.5 crore).
"#TheKeralaStory hits the ball out of the stadium… Takes a SMASHING START… Evening + night shows witness solid occupancy… The Day 1 numbers are an EYE-OPENER for the entire industry… TERRIFIC weekend assured… Fri ₹ 8.03 cr. #India biz. #Boxoffice," tweeted trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
Three National chains, PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis collected Rs 4 cr, reported Bollywood Hungama.
The Kerala Story was initially described as the story of over 32,000 women in Kerala who had been allegedly radicalised by Islamic fundamentalists. After receiving backlash, the number was changed from 32,000 to three. However, in the movie, one of the characters is heard saying that thousands of catholic and Hindu women are trapped by Muslim men for their agenda of creating an Islamic state. The film was heavily criticised for spreading misinformation and demonising the state.
Critics have called the film poorly written and directed. The Indian Express' Shubhra Gupta called it a "rant" that does not cover the "social complexities of Kerala - a state proud of its multi-religious and multi-ethnic identity."
NDTV's Saibal Chatterjee called it a "shoddy film" that is not "interested in truth". "No more than a lengthy WhatsApp forward in the guise of a movie. It is a passable vehicle for a half-baked conspiracy theory," said the review. He also called out the "lopsided, selective and alarmist theorising" about Kerala's global terror links.
