Adah Sharma on 'The Kerala Story' winning two National Awards: "We have the blessings of the victims..."

The winners of the 71st National Film Awards were announced on Friday, and 'The Kerala Story' took home two major awards—Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography for Prasantanu Mohapatra. Following the victory, the film’s lead actress Adah Sharma shared her excitement and said she feels “blessed” by the recognition."Sudipto sir, Vipul sir, and Prasanthanu sir didn't think of awards or applause while making the film. It was just to tell the stories of those who didn't have a voice. The audience then became our voice and turned this film into the highest-grossing female film of all time," said Adah while speaking to NDTV."We have the blessings of the victims, their families, and the audience, and now two national awards. I feel blessed. Scenes from the movie impacted people so much that even now, when I meet people at events, airports, they have tears in their eyes when discussing the scenes. As an actor, I got to be part of this historic film and play the role of a lifetime," she continued.Released in 2023, 'The Kerala Story' sparked nationwide debate due to its sensitive subject matter. The film explored the alleged ISIS recruitment of women in India, leading to widespread political discussions. Despite facing heavy criticism, it struck a chord with audiences and went on to become a box office success.According to NDTV.com, Sudipto Sen shared that 'The Kerala Story' was often misinterpreted because of the political climate, particularly due to the sensitive use of the word "Muslim." He revealed that the film had been in development since 2012, with extensive research led by his Kerala-based collaborator Ambika JK, who joined the project in 2010.