Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah and director Kamakhya Narayan Singh addressed the media in Delhi on Monday to speak about their upcoming film, The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond. The press conference, however, extended beyond typical promotional discussions, as the makers invited 33 individuals they identified as survivors of alleged forced religious conversions to share their experiences publicly.
According to Shah, the decision to bring them forward was prompted by repeated claims that such incidents do not occur in India. He stated that the team wanted the stories to be heard directly from those who say they have lived through them. The individuals present came from several cities, including Bengal, Bihar, Jammu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Indore and others.
Among the first to speak was Ranchi’s national shooter Tara Shahdeo, who recounted how she was allegedly deceived into marriage by a man who initially introduced himself under a different identity. She detailed her legal battle and noted that in October 2023, the accused and his mother were sentenced to imprisonment.
Other participants from Mumbai and multiple regions also narrated their accounts during the event. Concluding the interaction, Shah said there were many more stories yet to be told and maintained that he would continue to stand by the individuals who shared their experiences, despite criticism directed at the film.
