Kerala HC Questions ‘The Kerala Story 2’ Certification

New Delhi, February 24, 2026: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday raised serious concerns regarding the portrayal of the state in the upcoming film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. While hearing a batch of petitions seeking a stay on the film’s release, the court questioned the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on how a “U/A” certificate was granted to a project that potentially misrepresents the social fabric of Kerala.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, presiding over the matter, emphasized that Kerala is a state where people of all faiths coexist in “total harmony.” The court’s oral observations highlighted a growing judicial unease with the film’s title and its alleged potential to incite communal passions.

The Core of the Controversy

The sequel to the 2023 hit The Kerala Story has been at the center of a fresh legal and political storm since its trailer was unveiled earlier this month. The petitioners, including a resident from Kannur, argued that the film’s promotional material depicts incidents of forced religious conversion and extremist recruitment as if they are occurring “all over the state.”

The court noted that while the filmmakers claim the story is “inspired by true events,” the inclusion of “Kerala” in the title—despite the narrative allegedly spanning multiple other states—could lead to the unfair stigmatization of the region.

“Kerala lives in total harmony. But you have portrayed that this is happening all over Kerala. There is a wrong indication and it can also incite passion,” Justice Thomas remarked during the proceedings. The judge further noted that the apprehensions of the people of Kerala “cannot be ignored” when the state’s name is being used so prominently in the title.

Legal Challenges and CBFC Scrutiny

The petitions challenge the CBFC’s decision to grant a U/A 16+ rating to the film. Under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Censor Board is mandated to ensure that films do not threaten public order, decency, or incite the commission of any offense. The petitioners contend that the board failed to apply these statutory safeguards, particularly concerning the film’s teaser, which ends with the slogan: “Ab sahenge nahi, ladenge” (We will not tolerate it anymore, we will fight).

Lawyers for the petitioners argued that such a tagline could be interpreted as a call for retaliatory action, posing a “real and imminent” threat to law and order.

In a significant turn during the hearing, the court was informed that the film’s teaser had not actually been cleared by the CBFC. Following this revelation, the producers agreed to remove the teaser from all digital platforms.

Comparison with the 2023 Original

The first installment of The Kerala Story faced similar hurdles in 2023. At that time, the Supreme Court of India had directed the filmmakers to include a disclaimer stating that the film was a fictionalized account and that there was no authentic data to support its original claim that 32,000 women had joined ISIS.

The High Court observed on Tuesday that the “presumption of validity” that comes with a CBFC certificate is not absolute and can be rebutted if the content of the film is found to incite communal disharmony.

What’s Next?

To make an informed decision on whether to stay the release, the Kerala High Court has asked the Union Government and the filmmakers to arrange a private screening for the bench. The court intends to examine the film’s content directly to determine if the “microscopic” disclaimers are sufficient to balance artistic freedom with social responsibility.

The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, is currently scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on February 27. The High Court is expected to pass further orders following the special screening.