The Cast of Kerala Story has been one of the most discussed topics ever since the film was released in 2023. “The Kerala Story” was the master creation of the director Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutial Shah. The film stirred the nationwide debate for its subject matter and its portrayal of the sensitive issues. What caught the audience’s attention, apart from the storyline, was the powerful performance of the actors. They brought depth and authenticity to their roles. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Cast of The Kerala Story, their characters, and how they contributed to the movie’s impact.
The Kerala Story Production & Budget Details
The Kerala Story achieved massive commercial success within a controlled budget. It was backed by Sunshine Pictures, produced by Vipul Amrutlal along with his team, and the movie was directed by Sudipto Sen, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Despite its budget ranging between ₹15-30 Crore, the film managed to deliver striking visuals and impactful storytelling.
The film production had some talented crew members handling cinematography, music, editing, art direction, and every detail contributed to its gripping narrative style. Their efforts paid off as the result was not just box-office success. But it also got recognition as one of the most profitable Indian films of 2023. Here is a table highlighting the key production details, financial estimates, and commercial performance of the film:
| Category | Details |
| Film Title | The Kerala Story |
| Director | Sudipto Sen |
| Producer / Banner | Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures |
| Release Date | 5 May 2023 |
| Estimated Budget | Between ₹15 crore and ₹20 crore (some industry reports mention up to ₹30 crore) |
| Opening Day Collection (India) | Around ₹6.75–7 crore net |
| Week 1 Earnings (India) | Approximately ₹81.14 crore |
| Week 2 Earnings (India) | Roughly ₹90.58 crore |
| Total Gross in India | Estimated in the range of ₹210–241 crore |
| Worldwide Collection | Various reports suggest between ₹240 crore and over ₹300 crore |
| Return on Investment (ROI) | Considered one of the highest-grossing and most profitable films of 2023, achieving nearly 7x returns on investment |
| Digital/OTT Rights | Acquired by ZEE5, premiered on 16 February 2024 |
The Kerala Story Age Rating: What Viewers Should Know
As per the sources, The Kerala Story obtained the “A” certificate in India. Moreover, it was issued by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification). This means the film is restricted to adult audiences only (18 and above). On the other hand, in other countries, like Australia, it falls under the category of MA 15+. It’s because of strong scenes of sexual violence, violence, and themes of religious intolerance in the film. Yet in the UK, the BBFC gave it an 18 rating.
Detailed Crew Of The Kerala Story
From direction or cinematography to music and design, each member played a vital role in the making of The Kerala Story; moreover, this shapes the film’s success and, in addition, makes it thought-provoking. Therefore, here is a table giving you brief information about the crew and their contribution to the film.
| Role | Crew Member(s) | Contribution / Notes |
| Director | Sudipto Sen | Directed the film, shaped its vision and storytelling |
| Producers | Vipul Amrutlal Shah, Ravichand Nallappa, Aashin A. Shah | Managed production, financing, and overall execution |
| Production Banner | Sunshine Pictures | Film production company backing the project |
| Writers | Sudipto Sen, Suryapal Singh, Vipul Amrutlal Shah | Crafted the story, screenplay, and script |
| Dialogues | Suryapal Singh | Penned impactful dialogues for the film |
| Cinematography | Prasantanu Mohapatra | Handled camera work and visual tone |
| Editor | Sanjay Sharma | Edited the film for pacing and narrative flow |
| Music Directors | Bishakh Jyoti, Viresh Sreevalsa | Composed songs and background tracks |
| Background Score | Bishakh Jyoti, Viresh Sreevalsa | Created an intense and emotional score |
| Lyricists | Anant Balani, Ozil Dala, Viresh Sreevalsa | Wrote the lyrics for the songs |
| Playback Singers | Sunidhi Chauhan, K. S. Chithra, Athul Narukara | Lent their voices for the film’s soundtrack |
| Art Director | Sufiyan Ansari | Designed sets and visual aesthetics |
| Production Designers | Chetan Acharya, Angana Sen | Crafted the overall look and feel of the film |
| Costume Designer | Radhika Mehra | Styled characters to match realism and theme |
| Casting Director | Mukesh Chhabra | Responsible for casting the actors |
| VFX Supervisor | Kunal Ravi Tiwari | Supervised visual effects and CGI work |
| Action Director | Abbas Ali Moghul | Directed fight and action sequences |
| Choreography | Raju Khan | Designed dance sequences and movements |
| Sound Designer | Anuj Mathur | Created immersive sound design |
| Sound Mixing | Justin Jose | Balanced and mixed audio tracks |
| Production Manager | Sudhanshu Kumar | Coordinated logistics and scheduling |
| Executive Producers | Vipul Shah, Ravichand Nallappa | Oversaw key decisions in production |
| Line Producer | Rajesh Sharma | Managed on-ground production work |
| Make-up Department | Sujeet Sahoo, Meena Shetty | Created character looks with makeup |
| Hair Styling | Shraddha Naik | Styled actors’ hair for authenticity |
| Assistant Directors | Rohit Raj, Tushar Pandey, Aditi Sharma | Assisted in direction and scene management |
| Publicity Design | Trigger Happy Entertainment | Created posters and promotional designs |
| Distribution | Sunshine Pictures (India), Panorama Studios (Overseas) | Released the film in India & globally |
Meet The Cast Of The Kerala Story On Netflix
The soul of every film and its success lies in the performances of actors and actresses. Moreover, The Kerala Story features a mix of lead, supporting, and minor characters. Therefore, here is a detailed table of the entire cast of The Kerala Story, along with the characters they played.
| Actor/Actress | Character Played | Notes / Description |
| Adah Sharma | Shalini Unnikrishnan / Fatima Ba | Lead protagonist; her journey from nursing student to radicalized recruit forms the film’s core. |
| Yogita Bihani | Nimah | Friend of Shalini; represents friendship and emotional turmoil. |
| Sonia Balani | Asifa | Influences Shalini; represents manipulation and persuasion. |
| Siddhi Idnani | Geetanjali | Adds innocence and emotional depth; part of Shalini’s friend circle. |
| Devadarshini | Shalini’s Mother | Shows the family’s pain and helplessness. |
| Vijay Krishna | Shalini’s Father | Represents the parental struggle. |
| Pranay Pachauri | Rameez | Supporting character; adds to the radicalization arc. |
| Pranav Mishra | Ishak | Another radical influencer is critical in storyline progression. |
| Benedict Garrett | ISIS Trainer | Portrays the extremist indoctrination training. |
| Sameer Gulati | ISIS Commander | Plays a role in the extremist backdrop. |
| Aryan Raj Singh | Recruit Trainer | Minor but impactful role in the ISIS storyline. |
| Shailesh Pandey | Kerala Police Officer | Law enforcement perspective. |
| Aamir Mustafa | Radical Associate | Supporting a negative role. |
| Naseer Abdullah | Senior Officer / Authority Figure | Adds depth to institutional scenes. |
| Pranay Jethwa | Student Leader | Minor role, representing college life. |
| Rohit Bharadwaj | College Senior | Small role contributing to Shalini’s early journey. |
| Deepak Jha | Madrasa Teacher | Supporting role in the radicalization process. |
| Mariya Roy | Nurse | A Co-worker of Shalini before her life changes. |
| Aaryan M. Sharma | ISIS Guard | Plays a role in extremist camp scenes. |
The Kerala Story OTT Release
After its theatrical release on May 5, 2023, the film finally premiered on the ZEE5 platform on February 16, 2024. Therefore, here is a table showing The Kerala Story OTT Performance. Other than that, it might also be available on other OTT platforms.
| Metric | Value |
| Launch Date | 16 Feb 2024 on ZEE5 |
| Watch minutes during the opening weekend | 150 million+ minutes |
| Cumulative watch minutes by 2 weeks | 300 million+ minutes |
| Regional performance | Ranked as the most‑viewed Hindi film in the South Indian states (Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala) during its OTT run. |
Final Thoughts
The Cast of Kerala Story played a crucial role in making the movie impactful. Each actor brought their own strength to the film, whether in a lead or supporting role. Talking about Adah Sharma’s transformation, Sonia Balani’s persuasive presence, Yogita Bihani’s emotional depth, and Siddhi Idnani’s innocence. They all came together to form a gripping cinematic experience.
The Kerala Story was famous for its controversy in the beginning. Yet, there is no denying that its cast gave it authenticity and emotional weight. So, if you are looking to understand the real strength behind the movie, it just does not lie in its storyline or high conceptualization, but in the performance that made it come alive.
