Film personalities, Ministers, policy makers and representatives of every organisation and department related to Malayalam cinema came together in the capital on Saturday (August 2, 2025) for the two-day Kerala Film Policy Conclave, aimed at framing a comprehensive policy for the industry.
Inaugurating the conclave, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kerala, which is a model for other States in various fields, can also serve a model through a film policy which would aid in the all-round growth and improvement of Malayalam film industry.
In a speech in which the CM spoke about the early history of Malayalam cinema in making socially relevant films right from its infancy while other industries were focussing on mythological films, he also lashed out at the National Film Award jury for choosing the film The Kerala Story for two awards. He called on the State’s civil society as well as the film community to stand united against the move to tarnish the State using cinema.
“The National Award for The Kerala Story can only be seen as a celebration of the cultural corruption that misuses films as a means to spread communal hatred. It is unfortunate that a film that insults Kerala’s secular tradition and presents Kerala in a defamatory manner has been awarded. We should think about why criteria beyond art are used to evaluate art. The message behind this is that art should be used to destroy the secularism of our country and replace it with communalism. Malayalam cinema achieved greatness because its works were rooted in the soil, humanity and a secular way of life. The foundation of those achievements is being attacked,” he said.
