Tamil Nadu theatre owners have opted not to show the divisive film "The Kerala Story" due to backlash against its release. It has already been taken off of several online ticket marketplaces' Chennai listings. The movie is now being shown in thirteen venues around the state.

Multiplex owners claim that showing the movie has an impact on other films.

"Other films screened in multiplexes that screen this movie suffer due to law and order issues. Our revenue is impacted by it. According to a senior member of the Theatre Owners' Association, it is the reason behind this choice.

The movie has not been outlawed by the Tamil Nadu government. Currently, Ponniyin Selvan 2 or PS 2 by Mani Ratnam is performing well.

In Tamil Nadu, "The Kerala Story" is largely distributed by Red Giant Movies. which has close links with the ruling DMK.

The announcement to stop screening "The Kerala Story"
 comes days after the Madras High Court dismissed a plea seeking a ban of the film earlier this week.

Muslim organisations had sought a ban on the film alleging that it made an exaggerated claim that 32,000 Hindu and Christian women in Kerala have converted and got lured into joining the terror organisation ISIS.

Right wing groups want the film screened, claiming it is close authentic.

The ruling Left Front in Kerala has argued that the film humiliates the southern state and will spread communal hatred. It is a false portrayal of Kerala and there is an ulterior motive behind it, the ruling Left and the opposition Congress have alleged.

A promo of the film that claimed 32,000 women from Kerala had joined ISIS has been changed to "true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala," after the film's producers faced criticism for wrongly projecting facts.