Mumbai,
May
17
(PTI)
"The
Kerala
Story" producer
Vipul
Shah
on
Wednesday
announced
an
initiative
to
help
rehabilitate
300
alleged
victims
of
religious
conversion
at
an
ashram
and
pledged
Rs
51
lakh
towards
the
effort.
"The
Kerala
Story",
a
film
on
conversion
that
has
polarised
the
political
discourse
in
the
country
leading
to
bans
in
some
states
and
a
tax-free
status
in
others,
hit
the
screens
on
May
5.
It
is
directed
by
Sudipto
Sen
and
stars
Adah
Sharma
in
the
lead.
Shah
said
they
made
the
movie
with
the
goal
to
support
the
victims
of
conversion
and
their
initiative
'Protect
The
Daughters' is
a
step
in
the
same
direction.
"The
main
reason
for
us
to
make
The
Kerala
Story,
why
Sudipto
came
forward
with
the
story
and
made
the
film,
is
to
help
these
girls.
We're
going
to
start
by
helping
rehabilitate
300
girls
in
the
ashram.
We,
Sunshine
Pictures
and
the
team
of
'The
Kerala
Story',
would
like
to
start
by
donating
Rs
51
lakh,"
the
producer
told
reporters
at
a
press
conference
here.
The
team
of
"The
Kerala
Story",
also
featuring
Yogita
Bihani,
Siddhi
Idnani
and
Sonia
Balani,
was
joined
on
stage
by
26
alleged
victims
of
conversion.
"All
these
girls
are
very
brave,
face
a
lot
of
dangers
daily.
Despite
those
dangers,
they've
come
here
to
speak
up.
Today,
we're
beginning
an
initiative
called
'Protect
The
Daughters',
an
ashram,
which
will
be
a
safe
space
for
victims
like
them," Shah
added.
On
accusations
of
targeting
a
particular
community
through
"The
Kerala
Story",
director
Sen
said
the
team
did
not
want
to
do
a
"balancing
act".
"This
is
not
about
any
religion.
Not
Hindu,
Muslim
or
Christian.
It
is
about
three
girls
who
represent
the
sufferings
of
thousands
of
girls.
It
was
not
about
showing
a
few
Hindus
or
Muslims
in
a
good
light.
Each
and
every
word
and
visual
we
have
spoken
or
shown,
it
is
correct.
How
far
it
is
correct,
you
can
cross
question
with
them
(alleged
victims
on
stage)," he
added.
Shah
said
it
would
be
a
disservice
to
focus
on
"iconography"
of
the
film
rather
than
pay
attention
to
the
pain
the
alleged
victims
have
endured
over
the
years.
The
producer
also
urged
people
to
turn
out
to
watch
the
film
in
huge
numbers.
"The
Kerala
Story"
has
reportedly
crossed
Rs
150
crore
mark
at
the
box
office.
"Approximately
1
to
1.15
crore
people
have
watched
the
movie
in
the
last
11
days.
But
the
population
of
our
country
is
140
crore
and
one
crore
is
a
very
small
number
of
that
population.
I
feel
every
citizen
should
watch
this
film
with
their
family.
"I
also
believe
that
5-6
crore
people
would
have
seen
the
film
through
pirated
versions.
I
also
request
them
that
even
if
you
have
seen
the
pirated
version,
you
should
become
the
voice
of
these
girls
and
watch
this
film
(in
theatres).
These
girls
are
not
just
from
Kerala,
this
is
happening
across
the
country.
If
we
don't
react
now
then
it'll
be
too
late.
Which
is
why
it
is
our
responsibility
that
we
watch
this
film
and
become
the
voice
of
these
girls,"
Shah
said.
Sharma
praised
the
women
for
coming
forward
with
their
stories."These
girls
deserve
a
huge
round
of
applause
that
they've
come
here
despite
knowing
that
they'll
be
judged,"
she
said.
Shruti,
who
introduced
herself
as
a
lifetime
worker
at
a
Kerala-based
ashram,
claimed
that
she
was
"a
victim
of
ideological
conversion".
"Many
people
have
been
brainwashed.
We
de-brainwash
them
and
bring
them
back
to
the
right
path.
We've
brought
back
more
than
7,000
people
to
Sanatana
Dharma.
Majority
were
misguided
towards
Islamic,
anti-national
and
ant-human
ideologies.
Majority
were
love
trapped
in
jihad.
Our
duty
is
toward
the
entire
world,
not
just
Kerala," she
claimed.