Today, the DMK government told the Top Court that the government did not impose any shadow ban on the film ‘The Kerala Story’ and the theatres stopped screening the film due to poor audience response. 

The government submitted that the filmmakers are deliberately submitting misleading statements in court and the government has not imposed any ‘shadow’ ban on the screening of the film ‘The Kerala Story.’

"The exhibitors have themselves stopped the screening of the movie due to the poor audience response and the government cannot do anything to increase the audience patronage for the said film, except to provide security to the cinema theatres," an affidavit filed by Tamil Nadu said.

The government said that the film was released in 19 multiplexes and the filmmakers have submitted no document to prove that the State stopped the screening of the film. 

The government further submitted that the decision was made by the cinema owners based on criticism received by the film, poor performance, poor audience response, etc.

"The multiplex owners took the decision to stop screening the film from May 5 in view of the criticism received by it / lack of well-known actors / poor performance / poor audience response. The State exercises no control over decisions. It is reiterated that this decision was made by the theatre owners on their own and the State had no role to play over the same," the affidavit added.

The affidavit mentions deployment of 965 police personnel including 25 DSPs were posted for the protection of the 21 movie theatres where the film was screened.

The Supreme Court has even questioned the West Bengal government on its decision to ban the film ‘The Kerala Story.’ "The movie is being released all over the country and why the West Bengal government should not allow it to run," a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha asked.

Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government decided to ban the film in the state to avoid "Any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state".

The filmmakers then approached the court and submitted that the state government has no power to ban a film cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification.