The Kerala Story, which courted controversy over its subject and certains factual claims, witnessed one of the biggest openings of this year amid a very positive to very negative reviews by critics in the backdrop of polarisation over the film and its theme.

The film reportedly earned an opening of over Rs 8 crore on the first day making it the fifth-highest opening for a Hindi film in 2023, according to a prominent movie trade analyst.

"#TheKeralaStory hits the ball out of the stadium … Takes a SMASHING START… Evening + night shows witness solid occupancy… The Day 1 numbers are an EYE-OPENER for the entire industry… TERRIFIC weekend assured… Fri ₹ 8.03 cr. #India biz. #Boxoffice," tweeted movie critic and business analyst Taran Adarsh.

The film beat the opening figures of movies by several megastars. It got a higher box office collection than Akshay Kumar starrer Selfie, and Karthik Aryan’s Shahzada.

It even surpassed the opening of ‘The Kashmir Files’ in terms of first day collection.

Adarsh called the film powerful and bold. He posted: " #OneWordReview...#TheKeralaStory: POWERFUL. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bold. Blunt. Thought-provoking. Hard-hitting. Disturbing… You need a strong stomach to absorb this story… Director #SudiptoSen packs a solid punch… #AdahSharma is terrific… #Boxoffice WINNER. #TheKeralaStoryReview."

However other critics gave it a thumbs down.

"The Writing Is Consistently Cringeworthy, The Acting Is No Better," wrote NDTV.

The Hindu reviewed: "Adah Sharma’s performance marred by half-truths and an emotionally exploitative gaze."

"The radicalisation and trafficking of gullible girls to germinate terror is a story waiting to be told. But the way director Sudipto Sen tells  The Kerala Story, after years of research, is more burlesque than a sincere depiction of the problem. More like a companion piece to The Kashmir Files, the film maintains a divisive tone and the gaze is emotionally exploitative," reviewed The Hindu.

Free Press Journal on the other hand called it brave and balanced.

"Adah Sharma Shines in Brave and Balanced Film that Confronts Disturbing Realities," it headlined.

The film was released after the Madras High Court  rejected a petition seeking a ban on the release of the controversial film. The high court verdict followed a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a series of appeals, including one filed by the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, against the movie's release.

The petitioners claim that the film could incite hatred and hostility in society, and the top court directed them to approach the relevant high court.

"The Kerala Story"  depicts the alleged radicalisation and conversion of young Hindu and Christian women to Islam in Kerala and their recruitment into the terrorist organisation Islamic State or ISIS.

'The Kerala Story' has sparked a political controversy. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the film's makers of promoting the agenda of the Sangh Parivar.

He criticized the film for painting Kerala as a hub of religious extremism and spreading hate propaganda against the state.

Congress MP from Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor has slammed the film, stating that it misrepresents the state.

He has also accused the filmmakers of exaggerating and distorting the reality of the state.

The film is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. It stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani in the main roles.

The trailer of the film received backlash due to its claim that 32,000 girls from Kerala had disappeared and joined the Islamic State.\