Filmmaker Sudipto Sen has revealed that he may not produce films again after facing intense backlash and death threats during the release of his controversial film The Kerala Story. In an interview, the director spoke about the challenges he encountered and discussed his upcoming film Charak – Face of Faith, which is scheduled to release on March 6.
Sen said that even before The Kerala Story hit theatres in 2023, a politically motivated campaign had started against the film. According to him, the backlash intensified because the movie explored sensitive topics that some groups did not want discussed publicly. He claimed that several threats were issued during the film’s release period, including bounty offers targeting him.
The director said the situation was frightening, recalling that there were threats offering money for harming him. Despite the risks, he remained committed to the subject and continued promoting the film. Sen explained that although the controversy was severe initially, public perception began to change once audiences started watching the movie.
He added that the continued discussions around The Kerala Story, even years after its release, prove that the film had a meaningful impact beyond political debates. According to him, many films released after it failed to create a similar long-term conversation among audiences.
Sen also highlighted that his work on the film was based on years of research. He said he began studying the subject as early as 2012 and even made a documentary titled In the Name of Love, which later won the Best Documentary award at the London International Film Festival.
Talking about his upcoming film Charak – Face of Faith, Sen said he spent years researching the theme before starting production. He stressed that when dealing with sensitive subjects, filmmakers must conduct thorough research and understand the depth of the topic before presenting it to the audience.
The director also mentioned that he briefly accepted security provided by the Maharashtra government after the threats but later chose not to continue with it. However, lead actress Adah Sharma continued to use security arrangements.
Despite the controversies and risks, Sen said he remains proud of bringing attention to the issue highlighted in the film. However, he admitted that the challenges of producing films on sensitive topics have made him reconsider producing projects in the future.