'Fact, Not Fable': Kerala Church Screens Documentary On Manipur As Row Over 'The Kerala Story' Intensifies

Amid the intensified row over the screening of “The Kerala Story”, a church under the Syro-Malabar faction has screened a documentary relating to the Manipur violence.

The Sanjopuram church under the archdiocese of Angamaly screened the documentary titled “Cry of the Oppressed” for the students who were participating in the ‘faith camp’ convened during the school vacations.

According to an Indian Express report, the church’s move highlighted differences within Kerala’s churches over the screening of ‘The Kerala Story’.

On the same day, the Church of South India welcomed the local Muslim community to its premises in Manjeri, situated in the predominantly Muslim area of Malappuram, to mark the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr.

The screening of “The Kerala Story” on April 4 by the Catholic diocese of Idukki, a day before its telecast by Doordarshan, became a source of political controversy, especially after the dioceses of Thamarassery and Thalassery also decided to show the film to their youth.

On Wednesday, a Catholic parish under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese screened a documentary about the Manipur violence at St. Joseph’s Church, Sanjopuram in Ernakulam district.

In an apparent critique of “The Kerala Story,” which depicts four women joining the Islamic State, parish vicar James Panavelil was quoted by the Indian Express saying, “Manipur (violence) is a fact, not a fable. Screening the film was a reminder that we should not forget Manipur. Kerala society is vigilant about propaganda movies.”

“When misleading narratives are repeatedly circulated, we must counter them with the truth,” he added.

It remains unclear whether other parishes within the Ernakulam archdiocese or elsewhere in Kerala will show the Manipur documentary. Many priests within the Ernakulam archdiocese have long protested against the official Church leadership due to alleged financial scandals involving the former Church head, Cardinal George Alencherry.

Meanwhile, the Thalassery archdiocese, which had initially planned to screen “The Kerala Story,” reversed its decision. Despite this, its youth unit, the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement, defied the archdiocese’s stance and screened the film in Chempanthotty village, Kannur district.

Additionally, a pro-BJP Christian group, the Christian Association and Alliance for Social Action, also announced plans to screen the film throughout Kerala.