Filmmaker Sudipto Sen, who has been in the news ever since the release of The Kerala Story has been admitted to hospital after he fell ill due to excessive travel, with promotions for his controversial film currently put on hold. According to a leading news portal, the director has been traveling across several cities and promoting his film, which recently crossed the Rs 200 crore mark in collections at the box office. Reports further state that Sudipto Sen is planning to resume promotions for The Kerala Story in 10 cities after he makes a complete recovery.
The Kerala Story released on May 5 had been banned in West Bengal four days after its release citing, "the film could be dangerous to the peace and order of the state, the screening of this film was banned in all districts including Kolkata", an official press note by the Mamata Banerjee government stated. The Supreme Court later issued a stay order against the film's ban in West Bengal stating that is the state government's duty to maintain law and order during the screenings after it was granted certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Speaking about The Kerala Story's ban in West Bengal, Sudipto Sen told the news agency ANI, "Not a single untoward incident has happened in the state because of the film. The decision to ban the film is politically motivated. I request her to watch the film and then take any decision...I am not a politician, I am a filmmaker. I can only make a film, you want to see it or not that you guys will decide. There was no problem when the film was released in Kolkata for four days, suddenly Didi felt that there could be law and order issues, Mahua Moitra, and Mamata Banerjee, are the champion of free speech, and human rights."