Mumbai/IBNS: Surpassing big budget Hindi films driven by top stars, The Kerala Story is now the second highest grossing movie released in 2023.

The film is only behind Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan that had grossed over Rs. 1,000 crore worldwide.

As per the latest reports, The Kerala Story, which courted controversy over its subject and certains factual claims, has earned Rs. 156.69 crore in the box office till Tuesday.

The earning is better than Ranbir Kapoor's Tu Jhoothi Makkaar, Salman Khan's Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and Ajay Devgn's Bholaa, which are at the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

The Sudipto Sen directorial film had earlier defeated the opening figures of movies by several megastars.

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.

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.

While Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are the two states which banned The Kerala Story, the controversial film was made tax-free in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.