Filmmaker Sudipto Sen, director of The Kerala Story, has explained his decision to step away from directing the sequel due to insufficient research on its expanded regional narratives. Instead, he is focusing on his upcoming project Charak, which delves into the traditions of an ancient festival. Sen emphasized his commitment to thorough preparation in storytelling.
Sudipto Sen, known for directing The Kerala Story, recently discussed his career choices in an interview. He expressed initial interest in helming The Kerala Story 2 but ultimately opted out after producers decided to broaden the scope beyond Kerala to include stories from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
"I wanted to do Kerala Story 2. But a decision was made at the producer's level that in Kerala Story 2, not only Kerala, but the outside story will be told," Sen said. He highlighted the extensive preparation for the original film, which took 10 years and involved compiling a 200-page document for the censor board, a three-hour testimonial, and references to 3,000 girls. "When we made Kerala Story 1, it took me 10 years of hard work. I am an expert. You cannot defeat me in any logic. I have the proof of everything," he added. Sen remains steadfast in support of the first film: "I am still standing behind every frame, every word, every dialogue. I will not move."
For the sequel's new elements, however, Sen felt unprepared. "But when the story of a girl from Rajasthan was told, I had no knowledge about it. I had not done any research. I did not know the truth of it," he explained. He refused to proceed without depth: "I am not doing half-heartedly. That is why I said that I cannot make a film by reading it on Whatsapp and dying in a newspaper."
Turning to Charak, Sen's next film draws from the over 1,000-year-old Charak festival, where he was born. The project explores its cultural aspects, including fairs, music, and dance, alongside historical tantric and Aghori practices that extended to cannibalism. These practices were later banned by the government, but Sen believes change requires societal shifts. "But until there is a change in our thinking, until there is a change in your heart, what can the law do? The law will not do it," he noted. The film aims to foster discussion: "So, my film is not based on the law. It is made for common people like us."
