New Delhi: Filmmaker Sudipto Sen’s 'The Kerala Story', which has been facing ban and protests, is going strong at the box office with each passing day. Continuing its double-digit collection, the film minted Rs 12 crore on Wednesday bringing the total to Rs 68.86 crore.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted the film's box office numbers. He wrote, ”#TheKeralaStory is UNBEATABLE and UNSTOPPABLE... Continues its DREAM RUN on weekdays… Fri 8.03 cr, Sat 11.22 cr, Sun 16.40 cr, Mon 10.07 cr, Tue 11.14 cr, Wed 12 cr. Total: ₹ 68.86 cr. #India biz. BLOCKBUSTER. #Boxoffice Growth / Decline on *weekdays*… Mon: [growth] 25.40% Tue: [growth] 10.63% Wed: [growth] 7.72% EXCELLENT TRENDING.”
The 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, will be released in 37 countries on May 12.
While the film has been banned in West Bengal and screenings have been cancelled in Tamil Nadu, it has been declared tax free in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on May 12 a plea by the producers of the film against the West Bengal government's ban on screening of the movie after the makers said they are "losing money everyday".
According to PTI, Senior advocate Harish Salve mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha.
Salve said the petition challenges the ban by the West Bengal government and the "de-facto" ban in Tamil Nadu.
The Supreme Court will also hear a plea against the Kerala High Court order refusing to stay the release of the film on May 15.
Starring Adah Sharma, the film depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS).