Adah Sharma stands by National Film Award wins for 'The Kerala Story': 'I don't mind being shameless'

'The Kerala Story' bagged the honors in the Best Direction and Best Cinematography categories at the 71st National Film Awards. However, this didn't go well with a lot of people, as they felt that it was a propaganda movie. Now, the actress, Adah Sharma, has defended the film, saying it is her "responsibility" to bring the victim's stories into the forefront.

Adah Sharma reacts to backlash on the film winning National Awards

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, talking about the backlash after it won the National Awards, Adah Sharma said that if telling the truth is shameful, then "I don't mind being shameless." The actress said that she has no shame in saying that she doesn't support terrorism. She said, "People who are calling it shameful—I think it has hit a nerve, and I don’t think nerves are hit by lies."

Adah Sharma shares she felt responsible for telling the stories of the victim

Adah shared that everyone is allowed to have their opinion. She added that it would have been "shameful" if they had not made the film. The actress went on to reveal that she has met 25 girls who went through all the horrors shown in the film. Adah even stated that the movie is still a diluted version of what they experience in real life.

The actress expressed that after meeting the girls, she felt that it was her "responsibility to tell their story."

Adah Sharma reacts to claims of the film being 'politically motivated'

Adah Sharma, in the same interview, dismissed the claims that the film was politically motivated. She stated that there was no mention of any political party or a leader. She told the publication that the film was the story about the girls who were "trafficked, brainwashed, and taken to become terrorists." She said, "I stand with these girls. If that is political, then so be it."

More about 'The Kerala Story'

The film tells the story of three women who are forced to convert to Islam and later join ISIS. Adah played one of three in the film. Directed by Sudipto Sen, it was released in theaters in May 2023. Reportedly, the film earned over Rs 300 crore at the box office worldwide.