In a high-stakes legal development, the Kerala High Court has intervened in the release of the controversial sequel, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. During a hearing on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, a bench led by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas raised serious concerns over the film’s promotional materials, observing that the teaser and trailer appear to “portray the State wrongly.” The court highlighted that while Kerala is recognized for its secular fabric and communal harmony, the film’s narrative suggests a widespread regional discord that does not reflect the state’s lived reality.
The court’s observation came during the hearing of three petitions, including one by Kannur native Sreedev Namboodiri, seeking a stay on the film’s release and the cancellation of its U/A 16+ certificate. The petitioners argue that although the film claims to be “inspired by true events,” the stories depicted involve women from various states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, yet the title continues to single out Kerala. Justice Thomas remarked, “Kerala lives in total harmony. But you have portrayed that this is happening all over the state. There is a wrong indication that can also incite passion.”
The courtroom drama took a sharp turn during the post-lunch session. Earlier in the day, the producers had agreed to arrange a special screening for the court on Wednesday, February 25, to clarify that the “objectionable content” in the teaser was not present in the final film. However, upon reconvening, the makers shifted their stance, questioning the maintainability of the petitions instead. This led the court to orally remark that the producers seemed “not keen” on the court viewing the film.
Despite the back-and-forth, several key developments were noted:
- Teaser Removal: Under judicial pressure, the producers agreed to withdraw the existing teaser and trailer from public platforms until the court reaches a final decision.
- Censor Board Scrutiny: The court questioned the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on whether it considered the potential for communal tension when granting the certificate, especially given the film’s provocative tagline, “Ab sahenge nahin, ladenge” (We will not tolerate anymore, we will fight).
- Factual Discrepancies: Petitioners pointed out that during a recent promotional event in Delhi featuring 33 survivors of alleged conversions, not a single woman was from Kerala, further challenging the film’s title.
Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Sunshine Pictures, the film is currently scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on Friday, February 27, 2026. However, with the High Court deferring the matter to consider the preliminary issues of the litigation, the film’s debut remains uncertain. The court emphasized that while it respects artistic freedom, a film claiming to be a “true story” carries a heavy social responsibility that cannot be ignored if it threatens public order.
Key Highlights:
- Judicial Intervention: The Kerala High Court observed that The Kerala Story 2 wrongly portrays the state’s social harmony and requested a private screening to assess its content.
- Promotional Retraction: Following the court’s remarks on communal sensitivity, the film’s producers have agreed to take down the controversial teaser and trailer.
- Legal Tug-of-War: After initially agreeing to a court screening, the producers retracted the offer, leading the judge to question their transparency regarding the film’s narrative.
- Release Uncertainty: With the film set to hit theaters on February 27, the court is currently evaluating petitions to quash its censor certificate based on claims of misrepresentation.