OTT platforms shun hit film 'The Kerala Story' despite box office triumph

Sudipto Sen's highly successful film, "The Kerala Story," has faced difficulties in securing suitable offers from major OTT platforms, with the filmmakers alleging that the film industry has conspired to punish them for their box office success.

Despite generating significant buzz and achieving impressive box office results, the makers of "The Kerala Story" have been unable to secure favorable deals with major OTT platforms. Director Sudipto Sen dismissed reports suggesting that the film was ready for streaming, highlighting the lack of suitable offers from OTT platforms.

Sen further claimed that the film industry has united to penalize them, stating, "Our box office success has irked many sections of the film industry. We have a feeling that a section of the entertainment industry has united to punish us for our success."

"The Kerala Story" has garnered over ₹230 crore in box office collections and has been watched by more than 3.40 crore people. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh revealed that the film stands as the second highest-grossing film of 2023, trailing only behind Shahrukh Khan's "Pathan."

During a seminar on 'Reality of Conversion and Uniform Civil Code,' Sudipto Sen expressed that the purpose of making "The Kerala Story" was to awaken 100 crore Indians. He emphasized, "Some people make films to earn ₹100 crore. We made this film to awaken 100 crore people."

Sen also asserted that attempts to discredit the film have failed, as audiences have embraced it wholeheartedly. He claimed that discussions surrounding terrorism and the plot to convert women to Islam have emerged after viewers watched his film.Despite its success at the box office, "The Kerala Story" continues to face challenges in securing a digital release.