Farming Muslimness: A Critical Analysis of “The Kerala Story"

This study analyzes “The Kerala Story” (2023) to examine the representation of Muslims in the Bollywood film industry. This movie is selected as a case study through purposive sampling because of its depiction of Muslims in various scenes and dialogues. A critical approach was used to analyse this movie. Data was collected from online platforms such as YouTube, Google Chrome, and Movie Box used publicly. This study uses Fairclough’s (2003) Critical Discourse Analysis theory and Stuart Hall’s (1997) Representation Theory. The purpose of this study is to deconstruct the negative ideologies about Muslims and explore how different stereotypes and harmful misconceptions are perpetuated through this movie. The findings indicate the complex representation of Muslims in film, reflecting negative stereotypes, especially in the portrayal of manipulative figures of Muslims who forced non-Muslim Indian women to convert to Islam. This research contributes to our understanding of societal attitudes towards minority communities, specifically Muslims, that are shaped through popular cultures, highlighting the need for more balanced representation.