Syro-Malabar Catholic Church screens ‘The Kerala Story’
In a move that has raised eyebrows and upset the LDF and the UDF in Kerala, the Idukki Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church on Monday screened the controversial movie, "The Kerala Story," for its young members, mainly students of classes 10 to 12, as part of the Festival of Faith.
The screening comes just days after the LDF and UDF had vehemently opposed the telecast of the movie on Doordarshan.
“We screened it to create awareness about the dangers involved in love affairs and marriages”, said Fr. Jins Karakkat, chairman of the Idukki Diocese Media Commission.
As part of the Festival of Faith, one of the topics in Catechism classes was love, and the children were asked to watch and evaluate "The
Kerala Story" in this context.
According to church leaders, the topic was chosen to create awareness among children about the dangers of being involved in love affairs.
The BJP welcomed the screening of the film by the Idukki diocese. BJP Central Zone President N Hari said the diocese had taken a realistic approach to the issue. "The decision of the diocese is a setback to the propaganda carried out against the film by the LDF and UDF, who had opposed its screening by Doordarshan," he said.
In his reaction, Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the church should have avoided screening the movie “under present circumstances.” The movie is intended to bring disrepute to Kerala, he added.
CPM state secretary MV Govindan said “The Kerala Story” is a third-rate film trying to spread hatred against Muslims and communists."