The Kerala Story emerged as one of the major winners at the recently announced 71st National Film Awards, bagging accolades for Best Director and Best Cinematography. While the film’s director Sudipto Sen is honored by the recognition, he admits he hoped for more.

Speaking exclusively to Hindustan Times, Sudipto says the Best Director win came as a surprise. “Honestly, I was expecting awards in technical categories. The film became a massive talking point—even two years after its release—which speaks to the strength of the technical work behind it,” he shares. “I was really hoping my team would be recognised. My cinematographer did win, which makes me happy, but I would have loved to see my writer, makeup artist, and especially Adah Sharma get acknowledged too. So yes, there's a bit of sadness.”

Despite the mixed emotions, Sudipto is taking the win in stride. “Coming from a humble background, and after struggling for over two decades, receiving the country’s top honour for direction is overwhelming. I’m deeply grateful,” he adds.

Recognition, Not Validation

For Sudipto, the award isn’t about validation—it’s about being recognised. “I’ve lived in Mumbai for almost 25 years now, but I’ve never really felt like part of the Bollywood circle,” he says. “I don’t make the kind of cinema typical to Mumbai. I’ve always been on the outside, and people here still don’t know me well. Their approval was never what I was chasing—what mattered most was how the audience responded.”

On the Film’s Controversy and Continued Relevance

The Kerala Story tells the tale of young women from Kerala who are allegedly radicalised by ISIS militants. The film, promoted as being based on real events, sparked intense backlash in Kerala, leading to protests, a state-wide ban, and legal battles.

Reflecting on the controversy and the film’s impact, Sudipto says, “People tried to label the film as propaganda to discredit it. But winning a National Award proves that narrative wrong. For me, that’s one of the most meaningful outcomes—it shows the film’s relevance hasn’t faded.”

Despite the polarising opinions, the film struck a chord with audiences, grossing over ₹300 crore at the box office. And for Sudipto Sen, that—along with the recognition of his work—is what truly matters.